A couple of early C18th Targes

**figheadair** · 2nd February 11, 07:45 AM

Thought those that are interested in weapons and re-enacting might be interested in the reverse of these two early C18th targes.

Oak planking overlapped at 90 degrees. The wood was originallly covered in a green cloth which can just been seen surviving in a couple of places.

No 2. Retaining most of the original red cloth backing and upper arm strap. Finely tooled with studs of silver not the usual brass

**watsonclan** · 2nd February 11, 09:41 AM

These are awesome, are they for sale? They should of course never be used again....very nice find!!!!

**Korvyn** · 2nd February 11, 10:19 AM

Thats a nice find. these have seen better days but i guess if i was that old i wouldn't look any better.

**figheadair** · 2nd February 11, 12:52 PM

Originally Posted by Korvyn

Thats a nice find. these have seen better days but i guess if i was that old i wouldn't look any better.

Both were apparently used as butter churn covers during the Proscription era. The backs are somewhat tattie but the fronts are amazingly well preserved.

**figheadair** · 2nd February 11, 12:57 PM

Originally Posted by watsonclan

These are awesome, are they for sale?

Hardly

**watsonclan** · 2nd February 11, 11:43 PM

Wow, these are truly amazing. Do you know any of the history behind them? Used in the 45' maybe? I have been keeping an eye out for many years and they seem to be far more rare than same period broadswords.... Do you collect these sorts of things or do you work for a museum or something? Man, I would love to see some more pictures of the fronts. Definitely made my day when I saw those.

**figheadair** · 3rd February 11, 02:42 AM

Originally Posted by watsonclan

Wow, these are truly amazing. Do you know any of the history behind them? Used in the 45' maybe? I have been keeping an eye out for many years and they seem to be far more rare than same period broadswords.... Do you collect these sorts of things or do you work for a museum or something? Man, I would love to see some more pictures of the fronts. Definitely made my day when I saw those.

I've posted low-res images of the front views into the FP.

These are in private hands and belong to the family that has always owned them. The chief was not out during the '45 so one or both probably wouldn't have been used then but the previous chief was out at the '15, where he was wounded, and '19 Rising so one or other, or both, may have been used then.

I've been working as an advisor to the family Trust. They have some incredible artifacts.

**Woodsheal** · 3rd February 11, 05:23 AM

Is it my imagination, or do the fronts of these targes present a slightly domed or convex profile? Most photos of original targes I've seen show them as being flat, though some period paintings also show the "domed" look....

**watsonclan** · 3rd February 11, 08:48 AM

Incredible, the fronts are amazing...You are a lucky man to be involved in such matters. Anytime you have photos of ANY cool Scottish antiques please feel free to share them as I am subscribing to this thread.

Thanks again

**figheadair** · 3rd February 11, 11:42 AM

Originally Posted by Woodsheal

Is it my imagination, or do the fronts of these targes present a slightly domed or convex profile? Most photos of original targes I've seen show them as being flat, though some period paintings also show the "domed" look....

No, there're definitely flat.

What intrigues me is the first patterns of the first concentric circle outside the central boss ring. You'll notice that the design alternates trefoil - knot work - trefoil until the bottom (of the picture) when there are two knot work sections (albeit different designs) adjacent to each other whereas I’d have thought that there ought to be a trefoil between them, other than of course that there’s no room. Surely someone with the skill to do this sort of work would have balanced the designs? A mistake, by design or am I missing something?