In heraldry, a fess or fesse (from Middle Englishfesse, Old Frenchfaisse,[1] and Latinfascia, "band")[2] is a charge on a coat of arms (or flag) that takes the form of a band running horizontally across the centre of the shield.[3] Writers disagree in how much of the shield's surface is to be covered by a fess or other ordinary, ranging from one-fifth to one-third. The Oxford Guide to Heraldry states that earlier writers including Leigh, Holme, and Guillim favour one-third, while later writers such as Edmondson favour one-fifth "on the grounds that a bend, pale, or chevron occupying one-third of the field makes the coat look clumsy and disagreeable."[4] A fess is likely to be shown narrower if it is uncharged, that is, if it does not have other charges placed on it, and/or if it is to be shown with charges above and below it; and shown wider if charged. The fess or bar, termed fasce in French heraldry, should not be confused with fasces.
In English heraldry, two or more such charges appearing together on a shield are termed bars, though there are no definitive rules setting the width of the fess, the bar, nor their comparative width.[3] A shield of (often six or eight) horizontal stripes of alternating colour is called barry. Narrower versions of the bar are called barrulets ("little bars"), and when a shield of horizontal stripes alternating colour is composed of ten or more stripes, it is called barruly or burely instead of barry.[3] A cotise, defined as half the width of a barrulet, may be borne alongside a fess, and often two of these appear, one on either side of the fess.[3] This is often termed "a fess cotised" (also cottised, coticed or cotticed).[5] Another diminutive of the fess called a closet is said to be between a bar and barrulet, but this is seldom found.[3]
Other usesedit
Tierced per fess
Three eagles in fess
A fleur-de-lys between two mullets in fess
A flaming arrow fesswise
A shield party per fess (or simply per fess) is divided in half horizontally (in the manner of a fess). A charge placed horizontally may be termed fesswise or fessways, and two or more charges arranged in a horizontal row are blazoned in fess or in bar.
Notable and unusual formsedit
A mural fess, that is a fess embattled and masoned of the field, can be seen in the arms of Suzanne Elizabeth Altvater.[6]
A flag which has a central horizontal stripe that is half the height of the flag is sometimes said to have a Spanish fess. The name is based on the most well-known example of this style of flag, the flag of Spain.
^Fouché, Pierre (1961). Phonétique historique du français (in French). Vol. III: Les Consonnes et index général. Paris: Klincksieck. p. 921.
^. American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 4th ed. Houghton Mifflin Company. 2000. Archived from the original on 2005-09-26. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
^ abcdeWoodcock & Robinson (1988), Oxford Guide to Heraldry, p. 60.
^Woodcock & Robinson (1988), Oxford Guide to Heraldry, p. 58.
^Parker, James (1894). "Cottise". A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
^. The Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada. The Canadian Heraldic Authority. 1998-10-29. Archived from the original on Jul 28, 2016. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
^. The Heraldry Gazette. The Heraldry Society (June 2007): 3. 2007-11-24. Archived from the original on Jan 10, 2014. Retrieved 2009-03-29.
Further readingedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fesses in heraldry.
Boutell, Charles (1890). Heraldry, Ancient and Modern: Including Boutell's Heraldry. London: Frederick Warne. OCLC 6102523
Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles (1909). A Complete Guide to Heraldry. New York: Dodge Pub. Co. ISBN0-517-26643-1. LCCN 09-23803
Woodward, John and George Burnett (1892). Woodward's a treatise on heraldry, British and foreign. Edinburgh: W. & A. K. Johnson. ISBN0-7153-4464-1. LCCN 02-20303
November 29, 2023
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For other uses see Fess disambiguation In heraldry a fess or fesse from Middle English fesse Old French faisse 1 and Latin fascia band 2 is a charge on a coat of arms or flag that takes the form of a band running horizontally across the centre of the shield 3 Writers disagree in how much of the shield s surface is to be covered by a fess or other ordinary ranging from one fifth to one third The Oxford Guide to Heraldry states that earlier writers including Leigh Holme and Guillim favour one third while later writers such as Edmondson favour one fifth on the grounds that a bend pale or chevron occupying one third of the field makes the coat look clumsy and disagreeable 4 A fess is likely to be shown narrower if it is uncharged that is if it does not have other charges placed on it and or if it is to be shown with charges above and below it and shown wider if charged The fess or bar termed fasce in French heraldry should not be confused with fasces Argent a fess gules Contents 1 Gallery 2 Diminutives 3 Other uses 4 Notable and unusual forms 5 See also 6 Notes 7 Further readingGallery edit nbsp Fess cottised nbsp Two barrulets nbsp Two bars gemelles nbsp Fess indented nbsp Party per fess nbsp Barry of eight nbsp Barry wavy nbsp Barry nebulyDiminutives editIn English heraldry two or more such charges appearing together on a shield are termed bars though there are no definitive rules setting the width of the fess the bar nor their comparative width 3 A shield of often six or eight horizontal stripes of alternating colour is called barry Narrower versions of the bar are called barrulets little bars and when a shield of horizontal stripes alternating colour is composed of ten or more stripes it is called barruly or burely instead of barry 3 A cotise defined as half the width of a barrulet may be borne alongside a fess and often two of these appear one on either side of the fess 3 This is often termed a fess cotised also cottised coticed or cotticed 5 Another diminutive of the fess called a closet is said to be between a bar and barrulet but this is seldom found 3 Other uses edit nbsp Tierced per fess nbsp Three eagles in fess nbsp A fleur de lys between two mullets in fess nbsp A flaming arrow fesswiseA shield party per fess or simply per fess is divided in half horizontally in the manner of a fess A charge placed horizontally may be termed fesswise or fessways and two or more charges arranged in a horizontal row are blazoned in fess or in bar Notable and unusual forms editA mural fess that is a fess embattled and masoned of the field can be seen in the arms of Suzanne Elizabeth Altvater 6 The arms of Rennie Fritchie Baroness Fritchie provide an example of three Barrulets fracted and there conjoined to a Chevronel 7 A flag which has a central horizontal stripe that is half the height of the flag is sometimes said to have a Spanish fess The name is based on the most well known example of this style of flag the flag of Spain See also editBar heraldry Notes edit Fouche Pierre 1961 Phonetique historique du francais in French Vol III Les Consonnes et index general Paris Klincksieck p 921 Fess 1 American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language 4th ed Houghton Mifflin Company 2000 Archived from the original on 2005 09 26 Retrieved 2009 03 29 a b c d e Woodcock amp Robinson 1988 Oxford Guide to Heraldry p 60 Woodcock amp Robinson 1988 Oxford Guide to Heraldry p 58 Parker James 1894 Cottise A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry Retrieved 2009 03 29 Suzanne Elizabeth Altvater Grant of Arms The Public Register of Arms Flags and Badges of Canada The Canadian Heraldic Authority 1998 10 29 Archived from the original on Jul 28 2016 Retrieved 2009 03 29 Heraldry of New Life Peers The Heraldry Gazette The Heraldry Society June 2007 3 2007 11 24 Archived from the original on Jan 10 2014 Retrieved 2009 03 29 Further reading edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fesses in heraldry Boutell Charles 1890 Heraldry Ancient and Modern Including Boutell s Heraldry London Frederick Warne OCLC 6102523 Fox Davies Arthur Charles 1909 A Complete Guide to Heraldry New York Dodge Pub Co ISBN 0 517 26643 1 LCCN 09 23803 Neubecker Ottfried 1976 Heraldry Sources Symbols and Meaning Maidenhead England McGraw Hill ISBN 0 07 046312 3 Volborth Carl Alexander von 1981 Heraldry Customs Rules and Styles Poole England Blandford Press ISBN 0 7137 0940 5 LCCN 81 670212 Woodcock Thomas and John Martin Robinson 1988 The Oxford Guide to Heraldry Oxford University Press ISBN 0 19 211658 4 LCCN 88 23554 Woodward John and George Burnett 1892 Woodward s a treatise on heraldry British and foreign Edinburgh W amp A K Johnson ISBN 0 7153 4464 1 LCCN 02 20303 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fess amp oldid 1161223328, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
