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How is the surface of a heraldic shield divided into chief, base, dexter, and sinister?
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heraldry
Cylinder seal impression from the Akkadian period with a combat scene between a bearded hero and a bull-man and various beasts.
In heraldry, the surface of a shield (or escutcheon) is known as the field. To locate charges or designs, the shield is conceptually divided into a grid based on the perspective of the bearer holding the shield.1
- Chief and Base: The shield is divided horizontally, with the top portion referred to as the chief and the bottom portion as the base.1
- Dexter and Sinister: These terms refer to the right and left sides of the shield from the perspective of the person holding it. Because the shield is viewed as if held by someone facing the observer, the dexter side is on the observer's left, while the sinister side is on the observer's right.12
By combining these divisions with the pale (the center vertical third) and the fess (the center horizontal third), a grid of nine points is created to precisely position elements on the field.1