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WHAT'S THE POINT - STUDY SERIES
   
  
The Subordinates or
Ordinaries
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The Pile
This is formed by two
straight lines drawn from the upper centre part
of the shield, in width about 1/3rd, and
gradually closing near the middle base in shape
resembling a wedge or pile from which fact it
undoubtedly derives its name. Unless otherwise
specified, it occupies the centre portion of the
shield and issues from the middle chief. It may,
however, issue from any other extremity of the
shield and there may be more than one. Piles may
be charged. The length of the Pile depends on
the other figures occupying the shield. If no
other charges intervene, the Pile may extend to
the nombril point or even lower. |
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The Canton
The Canton generally occupies 1/3rd of the
Chief and can be charged. It is placed in
the Dexter Chief unless otherwise blazoned.
The Canton is thought to have been more of
an augmentation to the arms, or a mark of
difference. |
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The Quarter
The Quarter, also referred to as the
franc-quartier, generally occupies 1/4
of the shield and is formed by two
straight lines drawn in the direction of
the Fesse, and the Pale meeting at the
Fesse point. It is placed in the Dexter
Chief unless otherwise blazoned. When a
shield has for example three lions heads
erased (2 and 1), only the sinister lion
and the one in base is shown, as it is
assumed the third is under the quarter.
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The
Gyron
The Gyron is a
triangular figure formed by two
lines, one drawn diagonally from one
of the four angles to the centre of
the Shield, and the other drawn
either horizontal or perpendicular
from one of the sides of the Shield
next to that angle, and meeting the
other line at the centre of the
Shield. It may be borne singly or in
couples to the number of
4,6,8,10,12,14 and 16. When there is
one Gyron only in a Shield it is
blazoned thus: gules, a Gyron or,
without mentioning the point from
whence it issues, the dexter chief
point being the usual point. |
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The
Gyron |
Gyronny of 14
or
and azure |
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From the Spanish
'Gyron', a triangular piece of cloth
sewed into a garment; more of a
design element than a symbolic one. |
The Inescutcheon
The Inescutcheon or Shield of
Pretence is a small shield borne in
the centre of the Field of which it
occupies 1/5th. The Shield of
Pretence is basically the paternal
arms of an heiress brought into a
family by marriage. Important Note:
when borne on any part of the Shield
other than the Fesse point, or when
more than one occurs, it is called
an Escutcheon
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Fusil
The fusil In its natural form
and sense, is a spindle
belonging to a distaff (the
staff from which the flax was
drawn in spinning) but in its
conventional form it is an
elongated lozenge. It was
formerly represented of an oval
shape pointed at the top and
bottom like a spindle covered
with thread. If Fusils are borne
in Pale, they must be fesseways,
i.e., their acute angles must be
Dexter and Sinister, but if
borne in Fesse the acute angles
must be in chief and base. |
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Fusil |
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In
Pale |
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In Fesse |
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Fusilly |
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