Chief-pale (Period)

The chief-pale (French chef-pal) is an heraldic ordinary used in Continental armory, consisting of a chief and a pale conjoined with no seam.  It is, however, a single charge, described as such in period heraldic tracts [e.g., de Bara 37], and found as early as 1415, in the Concilium zu Constenz [fo.clxxxi].

The chief-pale has no diminutives.  Like the chief, it may not be voided, fimbriated, or cotised; if charged with tertiary charges, they must fill the entire chief-pale, both the horizontal and vertical portions.

Renzo di Ilario di Federigo Venturius bears:  Vert, a chief-pale ermine.

Praxilla Taurina bears:  Or, a chief-pale potent.

Lina Arinbjarnardottir bears:  Azure estencely Or, a chief-pale argent.