Flank (heraldry)
In heraldry (heraldry), the herald's image flank or side denotes a post that has been shifted to the edge of the shield .
Description, representation and variants
A stake takes the imaginary place of the coat of arms after the division and split of the shield with the numbers 1, 4 and 7 for the right and 3, 6 and 9 for the left side. As with the pile, the flank width should not exceed 2 ⁄ 7 of the shield width. If it is wider, one does not speak of a flank, but rather a split to the right / left .
Flank
( Pielisjärvi , FI)
Shifted to the right split ,
left a tip
( St. Konrad , AT)
As is customary in heraldry, the exact width is left to the sense of proportion of the performing heraldist, the blazon is decisive, which describes the nature and structure of the coat of arms: A split shield is two-colored, both colors are roughly of the same rank, the flank is always a secondary feature in the coat of arms, which appears placed on a basic shield .
The basic shape is the right flank ( heraldic right , front - left from the viewer), the left flank is always named as such.
If there is a distance to the side edge, the heraldist speaks of a flank stake , both a right and a left flank stake are possible. The center line of a pile must coincide with the boundary of the flank.
If a flank appears on both sides, it is called a double flank . The middle area must be significantly wider than the side areas, otherwise it is a stake.
All types of flanks can be changed with further herald pictures or covered with common figures . All colors ( tingings ) can be used.
The flank can also be curved or curved (curved flank) , pointed one speaks more of point, gore (small point) .
If there is no dividing line to the rest of the escutcheon and on the edge of the shield or to other coats of arms cuts that do not extend much into the field , the name flank is connected to the cut, such as flank points and flank pimples . The flank bar or side bar represents a connection between the flank and a transverse bar in the same tincture . The prerequisite is always the lack of a line between the two Herold's images. Right and left versions are also allowed here.
Examples
right green flank
( Hilst , DE)
left red flank
( Trulben , DE)
right and left flank: double flank
( Bröckel , DE)
right and left arch flank (double arch flank)
( Schmalstede , DE)
Wave flank left
( Kuivaniemi , FI)
Right upper flank stand
