What is a coat of arms made up of?

Answer 1

A coat of arms has four basic elements: Shield * The basis of all coats of arms. * At their simplest, arms consist of a shield with a plain field on which appears a geometrical shape or object. * The items appearing on the shield are known as charges. Crest * The crest was a later development arising from the love of pageantry. * Initially the crest consisted of chages painted onto a ridge on top of the helmet. * Later crests were three-dimensional objects, made from wickerwork, boiled leather or other materials. * It was rare for universities to have arms which included a crest, although it has become more common. Motto* The motto was originally a war cry, but later mottoes often expressed some worthy sentiment. Supporters * These are human or animal figures standing on either side of the shield and support it. * Possibly originated as "filler" work on the part of seal engravers, now generally restricted to the most senior grades of orders of chivalry, the peerage, and to corporate bodies. source: http://www.usyd.edu.au/heraldry/what_is_heraldry/elements_of_a_coat_of_arms.shtml