The Human Figure in Heraldry

Though found often as crests and supporters, the human figure simply used as a charge upon a shield is not often found. Instances of human figures that do occurr include Christ upon the cross and images of Saints. Representations of the Virgin Mary with Jesus are not as uncommon as other instances of human figures. Like birds and beasts, the position of the figure in a charge takes on different meanings and names.

a savage's head	a blackamoor or Moor's head	a Saracen's head
a woman's head and bust		the Virgin Mary and Christ Child

The human arm, in whole or in part, is the portion of the human form most often represented in heraldry. When shown bare, the arm is blazoned as proper, while a clothed arm is termed either habited or vested. If the arm is clothed and the cuff is of a different color, it is blazoned as cuffed. The hand is usually either tan or peach — any other color is blazoned as gloved. When a hand or arm is shown in armor it is assumed to be plate, unless specified as chain or scale. If the armor is decorated with gold it is said to be garnished or.

a dexter hand	a sinister hand	a dexter hand in benediction	a cubit arm	a arm couped at the elbow
an arm embowed	an arm embowed to the dexter	an arm embowed fessways		a cubit arm habited
an arm embowed the upper part in fess	two arms counter-embowed	two arms counter-embowed and interlaced	an arm embowed in armor	a cubit arm in armor, the hand in a gauntlet

Other body parts which appear, although less frequently, include: legs (and boots), a woman's breast, an eye, a full skeleton or the skull alone.

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