Scale (heraldry)

In heraldry, scale has the blazon of scale-shaped patterns. In the description of the coat of arms, scales are often used.

There are three different cases:

• on the one hand, the fish scale is meant, with fish or with fish-tailed mythical creatures ( Melusine woman with fish tail as an example)
• the herald's image of scales resembles the fish scales in shape, or scale-like overlaps, as shown by the tincture of Schuppenfeh . So arched shape and all tinctures allowed.
• the third possibility is the description of a coat of arms cut ( scale cut ) concerns. Example: scaled shield base , d. H. the cutting line of the base of the shield is separated by small semicircles in a row.

• 

  (out) scaled fish (coat of arms of Brokdorf )

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  Schuppenfeh (heraldic pattern)

• 

  Scale cut (coat of arms office Itzehoe-Land )

The expression 'scaled' is therefore ambiguous, and its difference as a heraldic technical term is of far-reaching importance in descriptions of coats of arms, since the coat of arms can be misinterpreted:

• The Heraldiker emblazoned scaled along the line or more precisely with scales is in the area if it is similar only in form of a fish scale. Scale-like shapes then fill the coat of arms or the field . All tinctures are possible
• the surface of fish or of mythical creatures is but better than ausgeschuppt described

In older heraldry, the term for this fact was also curled or curled - but this word can also be used to describe the eagle's tail , as it appeared voluminously in certain heraldic epochs in the coat of arms.

Individual proof

1. ↑ Gert Oswald : Lexicon of Heraldry. VEB Bibliographisches Institut, Leipzig 1984.