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The shapes the designs themselves are made of — stars, crowns, wreaths, crosses, wings, anchors, radiating rays — together with the specific decorations whose iconography is worth knowing in its own right. These records exist to resist a temptation. A star on one country's award and a star on another's do not mean the same thing, and neither means what a star means on a shoulder board; the motif vocabulary is shared across traditions that read it differently. So the general records describe form and name the traditions separately, and the named decorations stay factual: what the design is, who instituted it and for what, and nothing about what a motif is supposed to signify unless a source says so.
A star on a decoration — the commonest award motif, and the least transferable.
A crown on a decoration, marking the sovereign as the source of the honour.
A laurel or oak wreath framing a decoration's central device.
A cross-shaped decoration — the dominant form for gallantry awards in Europe.
Outspread wings on a badge or decoration, chiefly marking aviation.
An anchor on a decoration or badge, marking naval service.
Straight or flaming rays radiating between the arms of a decoration.
A bronze cross pattée bearing a lion and crown, the highest British gallantry award.
A plain silver cross bearing St George and the dragon, for gallantry away from the enemy.
A five-pointed star suspended from a light blue ribbon, the highest US military decoration.
A purple heart-shaped medal bearing a profile of George Washington.
A medal awarded for service in a named conflict or theatre.
An award for a specific act of courage, as distinct from service.
The insignia of an order, worn in a form that indicates the grade held.