Armorial bindings; Bookplates, English; Heraldry -- Great Britain
When a shield is divided diagonally, either from right to left, or
from left to right, which must be specified, it is said to be _per
Bend_, dexter or sinister, as the case may be. If either of these lines
is thickened so as to become a charge it is called "a Bend" (dexter
or sinister). If the dexter and sinister dividing Bend lines are
combined, a division _per Saltire_ is the result, and if these lines
are thickened so as to become a charge, it is called "a Saltire." If
the upper triangle in the Saltire is drawn down into a narrow point
and forms a charge, it is called "a Pile." There may be several of
these, and their number, position, and colour are always stated. If
the Saltire lines are repeated so as to cover the entire shield with
diamond-shaped spaces, it is said to be Lozengy, and if these lines are
thickened so as to become charges, it is called Fretty, and the little
bars are interlaced.
[Illustration]
If now the dividing lines of a quartered coat and those of a coat
divided per Saltire be combined, we get a division known as Gyronny,
common in Scottish heraldry.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
If a shield is divided by an angular line in a gable form, the two
lowest lines of a division per Saltire, it is called _per Chevron_,
and if this line is thickened so as to become a charge, it is called a
Chevron.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
When a third part of the top of a shield is marked off by a horizontal
line it forms what is called a Chief, and when the top left-hand corner
is marked off as a small square, measuring about a third of the chief,
it is called a Canton, and is often an honourable augmentation to a
coat-of-arms, granted for some distinguished service.
[Illustration]
When a shield has a narrow border all round it, it is called a Bordure,
and this is also often an honourable augmentation, difference, or mark
of cadency on a family coat-of-arms.
The boundary lines of all these charges are normally straight, but they
may also be either
[Illustration: <i>Engrailed</i>]
[Illustration: <i>Embattled</i>]
[Illustration: <i>Indented</i>]
[Illustration: <i>Dancetty</i>]
[Illustration: <i>Wavy</i>]
[Illustration: <i>Raguly</i>]
[Illustration: <i>Nebuly</i>]
and a few more which are rarely met with.
Charges are usually placed on shields in certain positions which
follow one or other of the main lines of division which have just been
enumerated.
For instance, the three lions of England are arranged one under the
other, on an imaginary line running from the top to the bottom of the
shield. If such a broad line existed it would be called a Pale, so
the lions are said to be "In, or Per Pale." Similarly, they might be
arranged "In Fess" or "In Bend," and so on.
All charges and bearings on shields should be shown flat except
The Fret, which is interlaced.
Fretty, a small fret repeated, also interlaced.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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