[MR] Heraldic Term of the Day - Maintained/Sustained

[Beverly Robinson-Curry]

Today is a two-fer.  The terms "maintained" and "sustained" confuse even
experienced heralds, and since the two concepts are so entertwined, I
thought it best to present them in conjunction with each other.

 

These definitions come from the Glossary of Terms, found online at
http://heraldry.sca.org/heraldry/coagloss.html

 

"Maintained Charges. 

Small objects that are held by an animate charge are said to be maintained,
such as a lion rampant maintaining a sword. Maintained charges are
considered too small to count towards difference"

 "Sustained Charges. 

Large objects that are held by an animate charge are often said to be
sustained, such as a lion rampant sustaining a polearm. A charge is said to
be sustained if it is large enough to count towards difference. The rule of
thumb is whether, if the charge and the charge sustained were separated, the
two charges would be so nearly equivalent in size that they could reasonably
be blazoned as a single group of two equally important charges. Another term
for sustained charges is supported charges, such as a lion rampant
supporting a polearm"

 

So, in short, sustained charges are nearly equal in size to the charge that
is holding them; maintained charges are significantly smaller than the
charge holding them. 

 

Rhiannon

 

Mistress Rhiannon ui Neill

Triton Principal Herald

House Corvus, Atlantia