M130909a
A Bindenschild placed above a rectangle containing "MADE IN GERMANY".
A Bindenschild is correctly shown with the flat side up, as it represents a banded shield. Just think of knights in armour. However, a "beehive" is depicted flat side down; it represents the traditional form of a beehive, a "skep", which is typically made from coiled straw or a similar material. Businesses such as the Imperial Austrian Porcelain Factory (of "Royal Vienna" fame) historically used a banded shield and not a beehive. Being able to distinguish between the two is a clear indicator of whether a person knows what they are talking about.
M130909a
A Bindenschild placed above a rectangle containing "MADE IN GERMANY".