Bordure

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In heraldry, a bordure is a contrasting border around a shield, traditionally one-sixth as wide as the shield itself. It encloses the whole shield, with two exceptions:

  • When two coats of arms are combined by dimidiation or impalement, it is supposed to be a rule that the bordure does not run along the partition line. Some writers state that there is an exception to this rule when the bordure is charged with a number of charges (see below) that it would not be possible to accurately number were the rule followed.
  • If a chief is added to a coat that previously had a bordure, the chief overlies the bordure.

Like any heraldic ordinary, a bordure may be of a single tincture or divided; its edge may be straight or otherwise; and it may be charged with smaller figures. These variations are effectively exploited in the Scottish system of cadency.

This article incorporates content from the 1728 Cyclopaedia, a publication in the public domain.

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