Gallery of flags by design II: Mobile charges

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NOTE: UPDATE IN PROGRESS, BUILDING SECTIONS ON ARRANGEMENT AND ORIENTATION OF CHARGES

This page is an annex to the main gallery, Gallery of flags by design. It contains a large subset of charges that in heraldry are termed mobile charges. These are charges that can be placed anywhere on the field. In contrast, the main gallery contains only fixed charges - what in heraldry are termed ordinaries and sub-ordinaries. This gallery will also contain sections on the arrangement and orientation of charges. This work is ongoing.

Like the main gallery, this annex uses as its organizing rubric a set of categories and concepts largely derived from the Western heraldic tradition.

As with the main gallery, the purpose of the gallery is to serve as an aid to the practice of flag design and for the study and teaching of flag design, flag history and geography, etc. Items have been selected because they are the most well known, the most representative, or particularly unique, interesting, well-executed or illustrative examples of the incorporation of particular (often heraldic) elements into flag design. The aim is to sketch out a space of possibility for design with these elements rather than to provide an exhaustive listing of all instances.

For the purposes of identification, where possible, links will be provided to more specialized galleries and category pages that have more comprehensive listings. This latter work is ongoing.

Mobile charges

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Heraldry-derived charges

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 See also category: Mobile charges in heraldry.

Cross as mobile charge

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 See also category: Flags with flanchis.

See also Gallery of flags by design#Saltorel.

Latin cross, vertical

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Latin cross, horizontal

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Latin cross, diagonal

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 See also category: Flags with the Maltese cross.

See also #Concave kite ('arrowhead', 'dart', 'V').

See also #Cross moline (anchory) below.

See also #Cross retranchée / urdée (urdy).

Cross crosslet fleury (florencée)
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See also #Cross fleury / gyronny, #Cross fleury fitchy and #Fleur-de-lis.
See also #Lines of division and variation > #Flory / Fleury.

See also #Cross moline (anchory)

See Cross of Saint James/Santiago cross

See also #Cross fleury / gyronny, #Cross crosslet fleury (florencée), #Fleur-de-lis.
See also #Lines of division and variation > #Flory / Fleury

See also #Cross crosslet fitchy, #Cross fleury fitchy, #Fleur-de-lis.
See also #Lines of division and variation > #Flory / Fleury

See also #Cross cercelée, above.

See also #Fret and #Parted

See #Cross fourchée/entaillée and #Cross moline (anchory) above

For the flag of Georgia, see #Cross pattée (patty, formée, formy).

Cross potent quadrate
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See also #Cross clechée (clechy, fusilly, lozengy)

See also #Charges > #Pall

 See also category: Flags with tau cross.

See also #Tau (t-shape)*.

For depictions of actual shields, see #Charges > #Artificial charge > #Shield or weapon.

See also #Lines of division and variation > #Trefly.

Variant fleur-de-lis

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 See also category: Flags with fleur-de-lis.

For natural, non-heraldic lily, see Gallery of flags by design, Annex: Figurative-realistic charges > Lily. See also #Cross fleury / gyronny, #Cross fleury fitchy, and #Cross crosslet fleury (florencée).
See also #Lines of division and variation > #Flory / Fleury.

Caltrop-adjacent emblem

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 See also categories: Flags with caltrops and Caltraps in heraldry.

See also #Three-pointed star.

 See also category: Crampons in heraldry.

Note: In heraldry, this charge is usually classed as a sub-ordinary.

Note: In heraldry, this charge is usually classed as a sub-ordinary.

See also #Ordinaries > #Cantons > #Canton - Square by shape; #Variations of the field > #Checkered (Chequy).
See also International maritime signal flags.

Note: The Grand lozenge (Lozenge throughout) is a heraldic ordinary, i.e. a fixed charge. It is placed here for convenience.

Voided diamond (mascle) as charge
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Mascle-like astral/solar symbol
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Note: for lozenges as variation of field, see Gallery of flags by design#Lozengy

 See also category: Flags with lozenges.

See also #Variations of the field > #Endenté (barry indented / dantelado / trianglé)

See also #Divisions of the Field > #Triangle as division of the field, above.
See also #Lines of division and variation > #Flammé (Geflammte, Flamboyant) > #Flammulets.
See also #Ordinaries > #Chevron, above.
See also #Variations of the field > #Endenté (barry indented / dantelado / trianglé), above.

Concave kite as mobile charge

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 See also category: Flags with concave kites.

Note: a geometric kite is distinct from the escutcheon shape 'kite shield'

Irregular concave quadrilateral
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Concave kite adjacent polygon
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For concave kite as fixed charge, see #Concave kite ('arrowhead', 'dart', 'V')

This list is incomplete - for a complete listing refer to [1]
See also, Gallery of flags with circles

 See also category: Flags with discs.

Ring (Annulet)

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Divided (counterchanged)) ring
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Nested rings
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Overlapping rings
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Fused rings
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Ring quartered
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Pentagon

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Hexagon

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See also #Hexagram

Octagon

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See also #Octagram

For reference, see also Hypocycloid

Bastionné polygon

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See also #Lines of division and variation > #Bastionné.

Abstract figurative or symbolic charge - Natural, inanimate

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Note: this section includes both figurative and symbolic representations.

Geographic

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Cartographic shape

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Continents on Globe
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See also Figurative Charges Annex > Globe

Political entity
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 See also category: Flags with equator.

Geomorphic representation

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Island topograph
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Landscape
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Hill, Mound
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Shore
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Valley, Canyon, Gorge
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Water feature

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Both Lake and River
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See also #Both Lake and River and #Both Sea/Ocean and River

Both Sea/Ocean and River
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Atmospheric

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See also #Lines of division and variation > #Nebuly.

 See also category: Flags with lightning.

For flags with Sowilō runes, see #Charges > #Symbols > #Lettering > #Runes.
See also #Lines of division and variation > #Bevilled.

Rain

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 See also category: Flags with rainbows.

See also #Divisions of the Field > #Horizontal (Per fess) > #Multiband, horizontal for flags with fields depicting rainbows.
For the Wiphala of the Qullasuyu (Bolivia), see #Variations of the field > #Checkered (Chequy).

Astronomical

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See also Astronomical flags

Sun disc
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Divided sun disc
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Sun disc as part of Soyombo symbol
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Other sun disc
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See also #Sun disc with pointed rays

Sun with rays
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See also #Variations of the field > #Ray above

Sun rays
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Sun with pointed rays
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Pointed sun rays
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Sun disc with pointed rays
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See also #Sun disc

See also #Sun with face

Sun with linear rays
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Sun with sawtooth (serrated) rays
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See also #Lines of division and variation > #Flammé (Geflammte, Flamboyant) > #Flammulets.

 See also category: Flags with Zia sun symbol.
Adjacent to Zia sun symbol
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See also #Morning star

Sun with divided rays
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Sun with spoked rays
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Sun with droplet shaped rays
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Sun with face
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See also #Sun rayonné

Sun as half-ring
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Spiral-armed sun
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Similarly shaped spiral emblem
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Triskelion-like sun symbol
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See also #Triskelion-like symbol

Other sun symbol
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Full Moon disc
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Moon as half-ring
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This listing is incomplete, for a more complete listing see: Gallery of flags with crescents

Moon with face and rays
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Both sun and moon

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Single symbol representing both sun and moon
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Note: some star symbols may represent a planet, such as Venus, or symbolize something other than a celestial body - such as a social ideal or political-geographic entity.

Three-pointed star
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Refer also to modern variant of heraldic caltrop. See flags with heraldic caltrop

 See also category: Flags with three-pointed stars.
Four-pointed star
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See also #Zia sun symbol

White five-pointed star
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Yellow five-pointed star
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Red five-pointed star
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Black five-pointed star
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Green five-pointed star
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Blue five-pointed star
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Multi-color five-pointed stars
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See also #Six-pointed star, pierced

 See also category: Mullet of five points pierced.
Six-pointed star
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Six-pointed star, pierced
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See also #Mullet of five points pierced / Spur rowel

See also #Lines of division and variation > #Rayonné.

See also #Hexagon

Seven-pointed star
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Eight-pointed star
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See also #Octagon

Multi-pointed star (nine or more)
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 See also categories: Flags with comets and Comets in heraldry.
Other 'shooting star'
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Symbols

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Lettering

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Arabic script

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Latin script

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 See also category: Runes on flags.
Rune-inspired symbols
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Other script

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See Mathematical symbols on flags

See Flags featuring alchemical symbols for minerals

Caduceus used in a medical context

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 See also category: Flags with Caduceus.

See also Taijitu and #Gankyil

Tri-colored Taeguk

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Taijitu-like design

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See also #Khorlo, #Gyankil and #Triskelion-like symbol

See also trilobed taegeuk and #Triskelion-like symbol

Gankyil-adjacent emblem

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See also #Taijitu-like design and #Tomoe

See also #Gankyil-adjacent emblem an #Taijitu-like design

 See also category: Flags with tomoe.

Abstract triskelion

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Triskelion-like symbol

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See also #Triskelion-like sun symbol and #Gankyil, #Taijitu, #Tomoe.

 See also category: Flags with the Eye of Providence.

Figurative charge: natural, animate

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Animal

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Fish

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 See also category: Flags with fish.
Seahorse
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 See also category: Flags with seahorses.
 See also category: Flags with crabs.
 See also category: Flags with crayfish.
 See also category: Flags with conches.

Marine mammal

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Dolphin
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Whale
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 See also category: Flags with bats.
 See also category: Flags with beavers.
 See also category: Flags with birds.

NB: Buteos are known as 'buzzards' in the Old World, as 'hawks' in the New.

Chicken / Rooster
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 See also category: Flags with roosters.
 See also category: Flags with condors.

See also #Wallachian bird

 See also category: Flags with cranes.
 See also category: Flags with pigeons.
 See also category: Flags with ducks.

See also the #Zimbabwe Bird and #Heraldic (mythological) bird > #Avalerion.

 See also category: Flags with double-headed eagles.

See also #Heraldic (mythological) bird, below.

Quintuple-headed eagle
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See also #Wallachian bird, below.

 See also category: Flags with falcons.
 See also category: Flags with geese.

See also #Secretarybird; #Buzzard

 See also category: Flags with owls.
 See also category: Flags with parrots.
 See also category: Flags with peacocks.
 See also category: Flags with pelicans.
 See also category: Flags with penguins.

See also #Other 'phoenix' (Fenghuang)

 See also category: Flags with seagulls.

See also #Hawk

 See also category: Flags with storks.
 See also category: Flags with swans.
 See also category: Flags with toucans.
Heraldic mythological or symbolic bird
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Note: See #Double-headed eagle, above, for the symbolic heraldic charge.

 See also category: Flags with martlets.
 See also category: Flags with merlettes.
Other mythological or symbolic bird
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See also #Mythical beast > #Garuda.

See also #Other 'phoenix' (Fenghuang).

 See also category: Flags with phoenices.
Other 'phoenix' (Fenghuang)
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See also #Peng and #Pheasant.

 See also category: Flags with thunderbirds.

Note: Possibly a hybrid of an #Eagle and a #Raven.

Note: Possibly a representation of an #Eagle, the Bateleur or African fish eagle.

For other mythical or symbolic winged beings see #Mythical beast.

 See also category: Flags with camels.
 See also category: Flags with dogs.
 See also category: Flags with foxes.
 See also category: Flags with wolves.
 See also category: Flags with elephants.
 See also category: Flags with cats.
 See also category: Flags with leopards.

NB: In heraldic terminology, 'leopard' often refers to a lion in a walking rather than rearing position, a lion passant guardant rather than lion rampant or other attitude. This section is for flags portraying natural leopards rather than heraldic 'leopards'.

 See also category: Flags with lions.

See also #Winged lion / Lion of Saint Mark below.

 See also category: Flags with lynxes.
 See also category: Flags with tigers.

Hoofed mammals

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 See also category: Flag with antelope.
 See also category: Flags with bison.
 See also category: Flags with cattle.
 See also category: Flags with deer.
 See also category: Flags with goats.
 See also category: Flags with horses.

For winged horses see #Mythical beast > #Pegasus. See also #Unicorn.

Human on horseback
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See also #Saint George and the Dragon.

 See also category: Flags with sheep.
 See also category: Golden fleece in heraldry.
 See also category: Agnus Dei in heraldry.
 See also category: Flags with bees.
Other insect
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 See also category: Flags with kangaroos.
 See also category: Flags with martens.
 See also category: Flags with pigs.
 See also categories: Flags with hares and Flags with rabbits.
 See also category: Flags with dinosaurs.
 See also category: Flags with snakes.

See also #Caduceus (Rod of Hermes) and #Rod of Asclepius.

 See also category: Flags with turtles.
 See also category: Flags with angels.
Birdlike
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See #Bird > #Other mythological or symbolic bird for #Phoenix, #Thunderbird, etc.

Dragon, Wyvern, and similar
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 See also categories: Flags with dragons and Flags with wyverns.

See also #Sea-griffin.

 See also category: Flags with garudas.

See also #Bird > #Other mythological or symbolic bird.

God or goddess
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 See also category: Flags with griffins.

See also #Winged lion / Lion of Saint Mark.

 See also category: Flags with mermaids.
 See also category: Flags with pegasi.

See also #Horse.

 See also category: Flags with unicorns.

See also #Griffin.

Plant

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Branch

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Cane/reed
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Bamboo
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 See also category: Flags with rice.
Wreaths of wheat
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Sheaves of wheat
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Stalks of wheat
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 See also category: Flags with wheat.

Leaf

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For heraldic 'trefly' and 'quatrefoil' see main Gallery: Gallery of flags by design

 See also category: Flags with tilia leaves.
 See also category: Flags with maple leaves.
Nettle leaf (heraldic Nesselblatt)
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 See also category: Nettle leaves in heraldry.

Flower

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Apple blossom
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 See also category: Flags with sunflowers.

For heraldic lily, fleur-de-lis, see main Gallery: Gallery of flags by design > Fleur-de-lis.

See also #Rhododendron.

For architectural or geometric cinquefoil, see main Gallery: Gallery of flags by design > Cinquefoil.

See also #Mountain laurel.

 See also category: Flags with roses.
 See also category: Flags with tulips.
Other flower not specified here
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Fruit

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Apple
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 See also category: Flags with apples.
 See also category: Bananas in flags.
Citrus
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Grape / Grapevine
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 See also category: Flags with grapevines.
Pear
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Pineapple
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Pomegranate
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 See also category: Flags with pomegranates.
 See also category: Flags with raspberries.

Tree

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See also #Variations of lines > #Kuusikoro/Sapiné/Fir-tree topped.

 See also category: Flags with oak trees.
 See also category: Flags with palms.
Mythological or symbolic tree
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Tree not specified here
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 See also category: Flags with trees.
See also: Flags with trees.

Figurative charge: artificial

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Built structure

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 See also category: Flags with bridges.
 See also category: Flags with buildings.
 See also category: Flags with city gates.
 See also category: Flags with factories.
Government building
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House
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 See also category: Flags with lighthouses.
Religious edifice
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 See also categories: Flags with churches and Flags with temples.
Skyline / cityscape
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 See also category: Flags with towers.
 See also category: Flags with windmills.
Roadway
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 See also category: Flags with chains.

Cardinal points

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 See also category: Flags with cardinal points.


 See also category: Flags with crowns.
Other crown
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 See also category: Flags with furniture.
 See also category: Flags with chairs.
 See also category: Flags with globes.
 See also category: Flags with wireframe globes.
 See also category: Flags with armillary spheres.

Ornament

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 See also category: Flags with aircraft.
 See also category: Flags of Space Shuttles.
 See also category: Flags with tractors.
 See also category: Trains on flags.
Watercraft
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 See also category: Boats on flags.

For heraldic shields, see #Escutcheon (Shield-form of a Coat of Arms) above

 See also category: Flags with arrows.
 See also category: Flags with arrowheads.

See also #Concave kite ('arrowhead', 'dart', 'V')

 See also category: Flags with bow and arrows.
 See also category: Flags with crossbows.
Edged weapon
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Battle axe
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 See also category: Flags with fasces.
 See also category: Flags with knives.
 See also category: Flags with spears.
 See also category: Flags with swords.
 See also category: Flags with firearms.
 See also category: Flags with cannons.
Club, Mace
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Arrangement of charges

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In annulo (ring)

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Ring of stars + letters & numbers

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Ring of letters/numbers

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Ring of other elements

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Semi-circular arc of stars

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*Non-heraldic term introduced here.

In bend

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In bend sinister

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In canton

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Notes:

  • For charges in cantons see #Canton. The "canton" term is appropriate for flags, which are not "blazoned" (but which may include, as a charge, an heraldic escutcheon to be blazoned).
  • The vexillology term "in canton" is used here, for what in heraldry would likely be blazoned as a positioning at the dexter chief point. See also ‘’A Complete Guide to Heraldry’’ by Arthur Charles Fox-Davies (1909) and the University of Notre Dame's Heraldic Dictionary on 'Positioning of Charges'.
  • The vexillology term "in flyward canton" is used here, for what on in heraldry would likely be blazoned as a positioning at the at the sinister chief, as the field of a flag is not fixed, like that of an escutcheon. It is fixed only at the hoist.
  • The vexillology term "cross cantoned" is used here for flag fields divided in four charges, by reference to the blazonry of the Jerusalem cross. In heraldry, this would likely be blazoned as a positioning at the dexter chief, sinister chief, dexter base, and sinister base points.
  • The heraldic positioning system is ambiguous for flags, which may fly in varying directions and may be viewed on both sides. The reference points of flags is their fixed points to the hoist. In all flag images shown on this page, the flags are shown flying to the right, assuming the hoist (not shown) is vertical on the left; the major point (for the fixed "canton") for normal attachment of flags is at the top of the hoist, the minor point of attachment (for the fixed "base" of flags) is below it (but it may be partly covered when the flag is not flying and falls along the hoist, displaying only some part of the "canton" at top and some part of the "flyward base" below it).
  • The reverse side (not shown on this page) of some flags may show charges which are not mirrored like the plain field supporting them as separate copies on both sides (this may occur for textual charges).

Charge in canton, plain field

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Charge in canton, divided or varied field

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Charge in canton, field with fixed charge

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Charge in flyward canton

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Charge in flyward base canton

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Charge in base canton

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Charges in flyward and flyward base cantons

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Charges in base and flyward cantons

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Charges in canton and flyward base canton

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Field cantoned of four charges

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Symmetric cross cantoned of four charges

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Other cross cantoned of four charges

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In cross

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See also #Southern Cross

On cross

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In chief

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In fess

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In bar

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In base

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In pale, hoistward side

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On pale, hoistward side

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In pale, flyward side

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On pale, flyward side

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In pile

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In pile, one and two

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In pile, one and two, fesswise inverted

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On saltire

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In chevron

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On chevron

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Orientation of charges

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Points inward

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Points outward

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Bendwise dexter

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Bendwise dexter, inverted

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Bendwise dexter and bendwise dexter inverted

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Bendwise sinister

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Bendwise sinister, inverted

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Palewise inverted

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Fesswise reversed

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Barwise reversed

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Saltirewise inverted

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In sheaf

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