All About Middle Ages Shield Designs: Easy Tips for You!
Alright, let’s talk about middle ages shield designs. I got into this whole thing a few weeks ago. Started totally random. I was watching one of those medieval dramas. The knights were all kitted out, and I got a good look at their shields. They weren’t just plain, you know? They had all these symbols and colors. Got me thinking, what’s the deal with those designs?
So, I started digging. First, I just googled “medieval shield designs”. A bunch of pictures popped up, some real, some probably from video games, but it was a start. I made a folder on my computer and started saving the images I liked, just to keep track. Then I started noticing patterns, like some had crosses, others had animals. I wanted to know what it all meant.
I found some websites that talked about heraldry, which I guess is the study of these designs. But man, it was complicated. So many terms, like “fess” and “chevron” and “rampant lion”. It was like learning a new language. I tried to make flashcards to memorize the basic. Like, “What is a ‘fess’? What makes a lion ‘rampant’?” I felt like I was back in school again, studying for a test.
- heraldry
- fess
- chevron
- rampant lion
I wanted to see some real shields up close, not just pictures. I checked if any museums near me had medieval stuff. Turns out, there’s a pretty big one about an hour away. So, I planned a day trip. Packed a lunch, grabbed my notebook and camera, and off I went.
Seeing the shields in person was way cooler than the pictures. I could see the details, like how the paint was applied, how the metal was shaped. I took tons of pictures and made some sketches in my notebook. Tried to copy some of the designs, just to get a feel for how they were made. Also, I wrote down what they were made of, just a couple of words, like, “wooden, iron, leather, metal”.
Back home, I felt like I had a better grip on things. I made a little chart with the different types of designs I saw, the materials they were made of, and what the symbols probably meant. Crosses for Christianity, lions for bravery, that sort of thing. It wasn’t perfect, but it made sense to me.
Then I thought, why not try making one myself? I’m no blacksmith, so metal was out. But I figured I could handle wood. I went to the hardware store, got a big piece of plywood, some basic tools, and some paint. I sketched out a simple design on the wood, a basic shape, nothing too fancy.
Cutting the wood was a pain. My saw kept getting stuck, and my lines weren’t exactly straight. But after a few hours, I had something that kind of looked like a shield. I sanded it down, tried to smooth out the edges. It wasn’t perfect, but hey, it was my first try.
Next came the painting. I chose some basic colors, red and yellow, and a simple design, a yellow lion on a red background. I painted the whole thing red first, let it dry, then sketched the lion on top. Painting the lion was tricky, my hands were shaking a bit, and the lines weren’t super clean. I let each layer of paint dry overnight, just to be safe. I didn’t want it to smudge. I was just guessing but it worked.
My Own Shield
It took a few days, but I finished it. My very own, homemade medieval shield. It’s not gonna win any awards, but I’m pretty proud of it. It’s hanging on my wall now, a reminder of this little project I got myself into. I even showed it to my friends, they got a good laugh, but they thought it was cool I made it myself.
So yeah, that’s my story about getting into medieval shield designs. Started with a random thought, led to some research, a museum trip, and even making my own shield. It was a fun little adventure, and I learned a bunch along the way. Maybe I’ll try making another one sometime, maybe with a different design. We’ll see.
Original article by the Author:Emile,If you intend to republish this content, please attribute the source accordingly:https://www.creativesfunding.com/7518.html