indented quarterly

Quarterly, as its name suggests is a method of dividing the shield into 4, more or less equal parts, conventionally of two alternating colours. A Glossary of Terms used in British Heraldry, J.H. Parker, Oxford, 1894, Entry:Quarterly To further provide differentiation between arms the lines of the quartering can be given repeating patterns. An example of this is are lines drawn indented, i.e. in a saw-tooth pattern. An early author, Guilllim seeks to associate this decoration with fire A Display of Heraldry, J. Guillim, Blome, London, 1679, P39, and one can see the resemblance to flames. The visual effect is quite striking, an good example being the arms of DUNHAM (Lincolnshire), which are Azure, a chief indented or.