The Language of Blazon III

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The Language of Blazon

Part the Third

Complex Lines of Division

Now that the simple divisions of a shield have been explained, it is time to learn how to blazon the divisions that use other-than-straight lines. The complex lines most commonly seen are shown below:

In the previous section, you learned that the divisions were blazoned “Per XXXX”, now you get to add something onto that. For example, a field divided “Per Pale” by a dancety line becomes “Per Pale Dancety”, and a “Per Bend” done with an indented line becomes “Per Bend Indented”. Simple, is it not? The hardest part is telling certain lines from each other, such as Engrailed from Invected. The trick on that one is to remember that a Grail is a cup, and the cupping is always up on a horizontal line. In a vertical line it is more difficult, and you have to look at the very uppermost starting-point of the line, remembering you read from left to right. There is only one of these lines that has a separate “Counter” component, “Embattled”, and that only applies to use on the lower line of the “Ordinary” known as the FESS. (But that is for another time.) The general rule for “Dancety” is three teeth per line, which limits it’s use considerably if aesthetics are to be considered, more teeth would be blazoned as “indented”. The general rule for “Raguly” is that in a vertical line, the teeth point upwards, but there is no strict convention on direction on a horizontal line. If you have doubt on the name of a line, consult a standard reference.

As a bit of a self-test on what you’ve learned in this and the two preceding sections, blazon these four fields. The answers are in inverted text below the drawings.

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Return to: Article Archive/Arts and Sciences /Home Page The Language of Blazon (Tinctures) The Language of Blazon II (Field Divisions) also see Pennons, Banners and Flags (Oh MY!) -New! 03/21/06 for more information