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Dictionary of Vexillology: S (Scallop Shell - Scythian Cap)

Last modified: 2014-08-09 by rob raeside
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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SCALLOP SHELL
See ‘escallop’.

[Scallops]
Flag of Morissen, Switzerland (fotw)

SCALLOPED
1) (adj) Where the edges of a flag are cut into repeated semi-circular shapes - an indented edge.
2) (adj) The term may also be used when the top edge of a shield is seen with two (or more) semi-circular cut-outs (see also ‘shield’).

[scalloped shield] [indented edge]
Example; Merchant Flag, Portugal 16th/17th Century (fotw)

Please note however, that a division line within a flag or shield is not scalloped, but is more correctly described as either engrailed or invected (see ‘engrailed’ and 'invected').

SCANDINAVIAN CROSS
A cross with arms of equal width, whose horizontal arm runs along the centre of the flag, but whose vertical arm is off-centred towards the hoist – a Nordic, horizontal Latin or off-centred Cross.

[Norway - Scandinavian cross] [Sweden] [Åland Islands] [Shetland Islands] [Scandinavian cross]
From left: National Flag of Norway (CS); National Flag of Sweden (CS); Åland Islands, Finland (fotw); Shetland Islands, Scotland (fotw); Unofficial Flag of Swedish People of Finnish Descent (Elias Granqvist)

Please note that this term should only be used for those flags which are from, or have a connection with the Scandinavian region, otherwise see ‘off-centred cross 2)’

SCANDINAVIAN-TYPE (or SCANDINAVIAN-STYLE) CROSS
See ‘off-centred cross 2)’.

[Domingos Martins]
Domingos Martins, Brazil (fotw)

SCARF
A small ecclesiastical banner fixed to the top of a bishop’s crosier (see also ‘banderole’).

[Svetla] [Svetla] [Abtwil, Aargau]
Flag and Arms of Světlá , Czech Republic (fotw); Flag of Abtwil, Switzerland (fotw)

SCEPTRE (or SCEPTER)
A symbolic/ornamental rod or wand, and largely (but by no means exclusively) the symbol of a monarch’s temporal power (see also ‘crown’ and ‘orb’).

[Montenegro] [Montenegro] [Engelberg]  [Moldova] [Moldova]
Flag and Arms of Montenegro (fotw); Flag of Engelberg, Switzerland (fotw); Arms and Flag of Moldova (fotw)

SCHELLENBAUM
See 'tugh’.

[Schellenbaum]
Source: National Music Museum, used with permission

SCHWEBENDES TATZENKREUZ
See ‘cross pattée’ and ‘cross couped’ in ‘appendix VIII’.

[Schwenkel]

SCHWENKEL
1) A form of flag where a rectangular or triangular tongue extends from the upper fly corner of the flag, or where it has a strip along its top edge that extends beyond the fly to become a tongue (see also ‘engrailed fly’, 'palm', ‘square-tongued’, ‘stepped fly’ and ‘tongue(s)’).
2) The tail as described above.

[Schwenkel]  Tetouan, Morocco  Wloclawek, Poland
15th C Flag of Zurich, Switzerland (CS); Flag of Tetouan, Morocco 1968 - 1976 (fotw); Flag of Wloclawek City, Poland (fotw)

Please note, it is suggested that in the original German this term refers only to the tail.

SCOTTISH SALTIRE
See ‘St Andrew's Cross 2)’.

Scottish saltire
National flag of Scotland (fotw)

SCROLL
A usually narrow ribbon of varying length and elaboration; it is normally (but not exclusively) placed below the shield in a set of armorial bearings or an emblem, and is inscribed with a motto or the name of a state or other entity – a ribbon – but see ‘ribbon scroll 2)’ (also ‘Appendix IV’, ‘armorial bearings’, ‘coat of arms’, ‘emblem’ and ‘motto’).

Brazil president Brazil arms Brunei flag Brunei arms New Jersey New Jersey arms
The Presidential Flag and National Emblem of Brazil (fotw); The National Flag and Emblem of Brunei (fotw); The Flag and Arms of The State of New Jersey, US (fotw)

SCYTHIAN CAP
See ‘cap of liberty’.

[Scythian cap flag]
Flag of Pereira, Chile (io9.com)

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