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Dictionary of Vexillology: S (Seal - Selvedge)

Last modified: 2016-02-18 by rob raeside
Keywords: vexillological terms |
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SEAL
An emblem or design representing a government, a branch within that government or a person that, when embossed upon or affixed to a document, proves its authenticity or which validates a legal instrument. The reproduction of an official seal often appears on US sub-national flags – see ‘seal of the state of’ (also ‘anti-heraldry’, ‘military crest’, ‘quadrant 1)’, ‘seal flag’, ‘seal on a bedsheet’, ‘sub-national flag’ and ‘state flag 2)’).

[Seal of US state of Georgia] [Seal of US state of Minnesota] [Seal of US state of Utah] [Seal of City of Bakersfield]  [Seal of US state of Minnesota]
State Seal of Georgia, Minnesota, and Utah and the municipal seal of Bakersfield, US (fotw, official and Wikipedia); Seal of Subotica, Serbia (fotw)

Please note, that whilst a seal originally showed the user’s badge or parts of their armorial bearings (and was used to create an impression on wax or lead), when seen on flags today it is generally not (particularly in US usage) a coat of arms as defined herein (see also ‘anti-heraldry’).


SEAL FLAG
A term for the flag whose main charge consists of a seal as defined herein, set largely (but not exclusively) on a plain field and most often seen in the flags of US states and government agencies (see also ‘anti-heraldry’, ‘armorial flag’, ‘charge 2)’, ‘plain 2)’, ‘seal’ and ‘seal on a bedsheet’).

[Utah, US] [Missouri, US] [Kentucky, US] [Seal of US Dept of Energy] [Seal of US state of Minnesota]
From left: Flag of Utah, US (fotw); Flag of Missouri, US (fotw); Flag of Kentucky, US (fotw); Flag of the Dept of Energy, US (fotw); Flag of Subotica, Serbia (fotw)

Notes
a)
This term has been introduced by the Editors since no established alternative could be found.
b) In US usage flags of his type are often derived from previously established military colours.


SEAL OF THE STATE OF
In US usage, the seal relating to a specific state of the union – see ‘seal’ (also ‘seal flag’).

[Seal of US state of Florida] [Seal of US state of Utah] [Seal of US state of Minnesota]
Seals of the States of Florida, Utah and Minnesota, US (FOTW and Wikipedia)


SEAL OF SOLOMON
See ‘magen david’ and its following note (also ‘pentagram’).

[Morocco] [Morocco]
National flag and Emblem of Morocco (fotw)


SEAL ON A BEDSHEET
1) A term that is intended to be derogatory, to apply particularly to sub-national flags in the US and to describe any such flag that bears a seal (as opposed to another form of charge) upon a plain field – but see ‘seal flag’ and 2) below (also ‘logo on a bedsheet’ plus its following note and ‘seal’).
2) As above, but the term may include flags bearing a coat of arms rather than a seal – see ‘armorial flag’.

[New Hampshire, US] [Idaho, US] [Minnesota, US] [New York, US]
Flag of New Hampshire, US (fotw); Flag of Idaho, US (fotw); Flag of Minnesota, US (fotw); Flag of New York, US (fotw) 


SECOND CANTON (or QUARTER)
A term for that quarter of a flag which occupies the upper fly - the second quarter, upper fly or upper fly canton – see ‘canton 3)’ (also ‘hoist 1)’).

[second canton]


SECOND COLOUR  (or COLOR)
An old term, now rarely used outside the British and Canadian foot guards, for the regimental colour (see also ‘colour 2’ and ‘colours 2)’).

[second colour]
Second/Regimental Colour of the Governor General’s Foot Guards, Canada (Official Website)


SECTOR(S)
1) In vexillology a term that is used to describe the section (or sections) of a charge or field which meet at, or emanate from, a central point.
2) See ‘gyronny’.

[sectors example] [sectors example]
Roundels of The Czech Republic and Jordan (fotw)


SECTOR FLAGS/PENNANTS
See ‘registration flags’.

[sector flag example]
Sector/Registration flag, One Department of Rochefort, France (fotw)


SECTORED
1) See ‘faceted’.
2) In vexillology a term that may be used in place of the heraldic “gyronny” when a charge or field is divided into sections in (usually) alternating or different shades/colours meeting at a central point – but see ‘gyronny’.

[sectored example]   [sectored example]
From left: Flag of Gornji Grad, Slovenia (fotw); Symbol of the Ratana faith, New Zealand (fotw)


SEEDED
The heraldic term used when describing the centre of a rose, other flower or flower-like charge, particularly when this is of a different tincture - but see ‘barbed’ (also ‘tincture’).

  [seeded example] [seeded example] [seeded example] [seeded example]
Flag of Haguenau, France (fotw); Flag of Lochristi, Belgium (fotw); Flag of Broye, Switzerland (fotw); Flag of Les Ecasseys, Switzerland (fotw)

Please note that botany draws a distinction between the stamen and seedpods of a rose or other flower, whereas English heraldry does not.


SEGMENTED (or SEGMENTAL)
See ‘faceted’ and ‘gyronny’ (also ‘sector(s) 1)’).

[segmented example]
Flag of Mollis, Switzerland (fotw)


SEGREANT
See ‘Appendix V:’.

[segreant example]
Military Crest of Michigan, US (fotw)


SEJANT
See ‘couchant’ in ‘Appendix V’.

[sejant example]
Flag of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, US (fotw)


SELVEDGE (or SELVAGE)
The outer edges of a length of cloth so woven that the threads do not unravel, and used to minimize the area of a flag which might otherwise be lost through hemming – most particularly in those flags formerly made from breadths of fabric (see also ‘breadth 2)’.

[selvedge example]
(Željko Heimer)


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