Pearl cross
A pearl cross , also spherical cross , also ball cross , coin cross , paternoster cross and others, is in heraldry a herald's image in the form of a cross made of many small circles of the same size as cross arms.
It is to be differentiated from the apple cross (ball 
stick cross) , which can also be found under the same names, here the balls are only located at the end of the arm.
Form and use
The basic form is a common (Greek) cross with arms of equal length, but it can also be a Latin (high) cross . Ball is the general heraldic name for circular shapes, in general the pearl cross is filigree, the ball is coarser. Coins are mostly golden , the other special names for balls depending on color and size can also be found for the cross. It is usually a manageable amount, about five to nine circles (as prescribed or arbitrary), pearls and the like can also be many with any number (crossed 'string of pearls' as a picture).
The cross can float in the coat of arms or extend to the edge of the shield .
The coat of arms is rare.
Variants and similar forms
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Scale cross : the spheres are so close that a closed heraldic cut results. |
Web links
- Ball Cross (Heraldry) in the Heraldry Wiki
Individual evidence
- ↑ Rudolf Huber, Renate Rieth (Red.): Ecclesiastical utensils, crosses and reliquaries of the Christian churches. = Objets liturgiques, croix et reliquaires des eglises chretiennes. = Church implements, crosses and reliquaries of the Christian churches (= Glossarium artis. = Dictionary of Art. Vol. 2). 3rd, completely revised and enlarged edition. Saur, Munich et al. 1992, ISBN 3-598-11079-0 , p. 140, fig. 168 (ball cross) and fig. 170 (pearl cross) .
- ^ Walter Leonhard: The great book of heraldic art. Development - elements - motifs - design. Bechtermünz, Augsburg 2001, ISBN 3-8289-0768-7 , p. 289.
- ↑ Gert Oswald : Lexicon of Heraldry. Bibliographisches Institut, Mannheim et al. 1984, ISBN 3-411-02149-7 , pp. 277, 302