One of the honourable ordinaries, is formed by two parallel diagonal lines, drawn from the dexter chief to the sinister base. It contains one third of the field. If depicted the reverse way, i.e. from sinister chief to dexter base, it is termed a Bend Sinister, which must be so expressed. It may be formed either by straight or crooked lines, in the former case is simply called a Bend. In the latter a Bend Engrailed, Invecked, Indented, etc, according to the form of crooked line, which it assumes.
The Diminutives of the Bend are the Bendlet, Garter, Cost, and Ribbon; of the Bend Sinister the Scarpe and Batton. When charged, generally, the charges conform to the angle of the bends as if placed on a ribbon in pale and then the ribbon was moved to the diagonal angle on the shield, sometimes however the charges are arranged in fess and then rotated. It is not always clear when to rotate the charges and perhaps it is left to the taste of the bearer or artist. Mullets and animals tend to be left upright, objects like fusils and fleur-de-lis tend to be rotated. Use the orientation that allows the charge to be as large and easy to identify as possible when in doubt.
When charged with a single charge, older examples place the charge in the chief part of the bend, current practice appears to be to center the charge or draw the charge to use the entire available space, there being no difference in the blazon.
When the edges are decorated for example flamant, radiant or fory, the decorations may be drawn conjoined to the edge of the bend rather than as an integral part of the dividing line. |