Pile (heraldry)
Encyclopedia
In heraldry
, a pile is a charge
usually counted as one of the ordinaries
(figures bounded by straight lines and occupying a definite portion of the shield).
It consists of a wedge emerging from the upper edge of the shield and converging to a point near the base. If it touches the base, it is blazoned throughout.
, a pile may have other charges on it, may have its edges ornamented by any of the lines of variation
, and may have any tincture or pattern.
The coat shown here, for the Elsenburg College of Agriculture, was blazoned by the South African Bureau of Heraldry as Per pile embowed inverted throughout gules, vert and argent; dexter a single share plough and sinister a garb, or, in base an anchor azure, cabled gules; but it could as easily be blazoned as Per pale gules and vert; on a pile inverted embowed argent, between a plough and a garb Or, an anchor azure cabled gules.
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
, a pile is a charge
Charge (heraldry)
In heraldry, a charge is any emblem or device occupying the field of an escutcheon . This may be a geometric design or a symbolic representation of a person, animal, plant, object or other device...
usually counted as one of the ordinaries
Ordinary (heraldry)
In heraldry, an ordinary is a simple geometrical figure, bounded by straight lines and running from side to side or top to bottom of the shield. There are also some geometric charges known as subordinaries, which have been given lesser status by some heraldic writers, though most have been in use...
(figures bounded by straight lines and occupying a definite portion of the shield).
It consists of a wedge emerging from the upper edge of the shield and converging to a point near the base. If it touches the base, it is blazoned throughout.
Variant positions and varying numbers
Though the pile issues from the chief (upper edge) by default, it may be specified as issuing from any other part of the edge or as extending from edge to edge of the shield. Although it is not supposed to issue singly from the base, this rule is frequently ignored.Variant forms
Like any ordinaryOrdinary (heraldry)
In heraldry, an ordinary is a simple geometrical figure, bounded by straight lines and running from side to side or top to bottom of the shield. There are also some geometric charges known as subordinaries, which have been given lesser status by some heraldic writers, though most have been in use...
, a pile may have other charges on it, may have its edges ornamented by any of the lines of variation
Line (heraldry)
The lines of partition used to divide and vary fields and charges in heraldry are by default straight, but may have many different shapes. Care must sometimes be taken to distinguish these types of lines from the extremely unusual and non-traditional use of lines as charges, and to distinguish...
, and may have any tincture or pattern.
Rare variants
Occasionally piles have more than one point, appear in large numbers, have their points truncated or ornamented, have their edges ornamented, or are charged with other piles.Other things 'in pile' or 'pilewise'
A collection of charges in a converging arrangement may be blazoned as pilewise or in pile.Charge or division?
The distinction between a pile and a field divided per chevron inverted, or between a pile inverted and a field per chevron, can be uncertain.The coat shown here, for the Elsenburg College of Agriculture, was blazoned by the South African Bureau of Heraldry as Per pile embowed inverted throughout gules, vert and argent; dexter a single share plough and sinister a garb, or, in base an anchor azure, cabled gules; but it could as easily be blazoned as Per pale gules and vert; on a pile inverted embowed argent, between a plough and a garb Or, an anchor azure cabled gules.
External links
- Heraldry Society of Scotland: members' arms
- Heraldry Society of Scotland: civic heraldry
- The Public Register of Arms, Flags and Badges of Canada
- USA Institute of Heraldry
- The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada: Members' Roll of Arms
- Civic Heraldry of England and Wales
- Armoria Patriae: State Arms in South Africa
- South African Bureau of Heraldry database (via National Archives of South Africa)
- James Parker A Glossary of Terms Used in Heraldry (online version) Saitou, hard copy first published 1894
Hard copy
- Boutell's Heraldry (revised J P Brook-Little, Norroy and Ulster King of Arms). Frederick Warne, London and New York, 1983
- Sir Thomas Innes of Learney, Lord Lyon King of Arms: Scots Heraldry (revised Malcolm R Innes of Edingight, Marchmont Herald). Johnston and Bacon, London and Edinburgh, 1978
- Kevin Greaves: A Canadian Heraldic Primer. The Heraldry Society of Canada, Ottawa, 2000
- A C Fox-Davies: A Complete Guide to Heraldry (revised by J P Brooke-Little, Richmond Herald). Thomas Nelson and Sons, London 1969
- Sir James Balfour PaulJames Balfour PaulSir James Balfour Paul, KCVO was the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the officer responsible for heraldry in Scotland, from 1890 until the end of 1926....
(Lord Lyon King of Arms): An Ordinary of Arms Contained in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland. Edinburgh: W. Green & Sons, 1903 - David Reid of Robertland and Vivien Wilson : An Ordinary of Arms, volume 2 [1902-1973]. Lyon Office, Edinburgh 1977