fesse lozengy

The fesse is a broad horizontal band across the centre of the shield, in very ancient times it was said to occupy one third of the area height of the shield A Complete Guide to Heraldry, A.C. Fox-Davies, Bonanza (re-print of 1909 Edition), New York, 1978, P117, however it soon became somewhat narrower. A special form, the fesse lozengy is made up of single coloured lozenge (diamond) shapes placed vertically, side by side across the field, where the fesse would normally be. Arguably, this should really be described as so-many lozenges conjoined in fess, to avoid confusion with the patterning lozengy, which is a treatment over the whole field of alternating coloured diamond shapes Boutell’s Heraldry, J.P. Brooke-Little, Warne, (revised Edition) London 1970, P 321. Whatever the terminology this is a striking addition to any coat of arms, and the square-like form has encouraged Wade, the noted heraldic author to associate its use with Constancy…verity and probity” The Symbolisms of Heraldry, W. Cecil Wade, George Redway, London, 1898 P100.