Position (heraldry)
In heraldry, position is understood as the arrangement of the heraldic images to one another and to the heraldic shield . They follow special rules of blazon . For the position of common figures has in the Heraldry own language developed.
Position in the field
In general, every common figure hovers , that is, it does not touch the edges (cuts, shield edge, edges of other figures), but is harmoniously positioned in the field or in the free space in the field. This distinguishes them from the heraldic images , which by their nature are primarily subdivisions, and which normally always go through. A herald's picture then gains the character of the figure if it does not run through; so one can pile (a vertical element) abgeledigt or abbreviated to be, then it floats.
Figures that stand by nature, such as human figures, buildings or trees, are an exception; these are especially emblazoned as [ free ] floating .
Herald's pictures are placed above or below , if they can be seen in the main or foot (and more precisely with place / upper corner and point / lower corner), the heart is in the middle of the coat of arms . In front and behind is the determination of the coat of arms side, which results from the view of the shield wearer, whereby heraldically right is determined as front, the other side is analogously behind.
Pieces touching the divisions are reported as pending, abutting, and similar. If you only look at part of a figure, it is emblazoned as growing . Other technical terms relate to the position of small characters in relation to the main character .
More special positions
Vertically arranged figures are as pale as to emblazon. If these figures are arranged horizontally, the heraldist does not speak of side by side, but of beam wise . Diagonal from top right to bottom left (also the other direction) is reported as a diagonal bar arrangement. The figures are arranged in a cross oblique, they are schrage example and not arranged crosswise. Crisscross they are only arranged when a Greek cross can imagine for this position. If the horizontal, i.e. the bar part, is shifted to the upper edge of the shield and a high cross can be assumed as the position, then the common figures are arranged crosswise . The triangular images in the shield field are arranged in the shape of an equilateral triangle . It is also called a three-pass . This is common for balls and rings , for example , but applies to many heraldic figures. When the assembly is parallel to the plate edge, the element is placed upon the edge or board as arranged here is the sign board visible.
There are also subtle differences between occupied, sprinkled and sown. Small figures evenly distributed throughout the sign are considered sprinkled or sown , the number is fixed but occupied .
Position depending on the number
In general, the position and number per row is emblazoned with numbers, for example as two over one , written “2; 1”, “2: 1”, “2-1” or something similar; a larger number of figures can also be arranged in several successively shorter rows and then described with, for example, three over two over one (3; 2; 1).
If in heraldry the figures are usually placed in the coat of arms, the position is generally not to be emblazoned. All deviations must always be reported. A special case is, for example, in the wrong order (1; 2 instead of 2; 1).
- 2 figures
- Usually next to each other
- 3 figures
- Rule 2; 1, as two side by side and one figure below the gap
- emblazoned as a three-pass , if that should be emphasized
- 4 figures
- Rule 2; 2 as two rows with two figures placed side by side
- 5 figures
- Rule 2; 2; 1 as two rows with two side by side and one figure below the gap
- emblazoned as cross found when the position 1; 3; 1 is
- emblazoned as St. Andrew's Cross provided when the position 2; 1; 2 is
- in the circuit arranged's in circles, placed in round
- 6 figures
- Rule 3; 2; 1
- 3; 2; 1 is wrong
- 7 figures
- Rule 3; 3; 1
- More than 7 figures
- The rule is to report the position
The indication is the same whether the figures are the same or different. In the latter case, however, it is important to ensure that the blazon is clear.
Big and small figures
In many coats of arms small figures are shown next to the main figure. So you generally emblazon the main character first and then report left , right , above or below for another figure.
To describe it, terms have been developed for certain forms. How to distinguish:
- occupied or loaded means to touch a smaller picture on a larger one without touching the boundaries. The opposite of this is sown.
- equipped means the attachment to the outside of a larger object.
- seeded or sprinkled on them indicate many small figures (shingles, hearts, stars, etc.) in the field, the former with edge contact, the latter without.
- A figure is accompanied by smaller, mean figures. There is also the one-sided elimination , which can be left or right and is also named that way.
- exaggerated stands for "above", especially when a more specific reference is emphasized or a more dense arrangement is desired, for example a crown over a figure.
If several small figures follow the picture of the large ones, one speaks of laid after the figure , which represents a natural, appealing position in relation to the main figure.