Chapé (Period)

Chapé ployé (Period)

Chapé (French for “mantled”) is a Continental partition of the field, formed by two lines drawn from the center chief to the sides of the shield.  The partition thus strongly resembles a pile inverted, or a field party per chevron; and it will conflict with either, all other things being the same.  But a chapé field differs from these others in one respect:  In normal usage, only the central part of the field is charged; the mantled portion of the field remains uncharged.  (Despite this, there are still a number of chapé fields in Society heraldry with charges in the upper portions.)

The standard chapé field uses straight lines; there is also a variant, “chapé ployé”, with arched lines.  For related entries, see chaussé, pile, vêtu.

Brandubh Ó Donnghaile bears:  Per pale argent and sable chapé ployé counterchanged.

Maredudd Cethin bears:  Argent, chapé ployé per pale gules and sable.

Wolfstanus Lightfote bears:  Or chapé ployé per pale vert and purpure.