A couple of early C18th Targes

**watsonclan** · 3rd February 11, 01:26 PM

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?[/QUOTE]

Could it be something to do with the orientation while being worn? Just a stab.....

**Orvis** · 6th February 11, 03:12 PM

In their accounts of their 1773 journey through the Highlands and Islands, Samuel Johnson and James Boswell commented on targes being de-militarized (in accordance with the Disarming Act of 1747) by being used as water barrel covers. I've long presumed (perhaps incorrectly) that most of the weapon survivals from the pre-1745 Highlands and Islands were saved by virtue of their being owned by aristocratic families that were immune from the Disarming Act, and that the weapons of lesser Highlanders were confiscated, destroyed or put to more mundane use and thus eventually fell apart. I was surprised to learn here that the illustrated targes (the high-quality ornamentation of which suggests that they were expensive when made) came from a high-status household and had yet been put to such plebeian uses. I was also interested to see that the backs of the targes were covered in cloth, rather than hair-on deerskin, as some were documented as having.

All said, the targes are an interesting pair and deserving of study. They are a window into an earlier day. Thanks for sharing your photos of them!

**Nighthawk** · 6th February 11, 10:13 PM

figheadair- Those are awesome! Do you think anyone would mind if I made a reproduction of one?

**figheadair** · 7th February 11, 01:12 AM

Originally Posted by Nighthawk

figheadair- Those are awesome! Do you think anyone would mind if I made a reproduction of one?

They might without permission but I can ask. If they are okay with it then I have hi-res photos. Will come back on this.

**Nighthawk** · 7th February 11, 07:05 AM

Originally Posted by figheadair

They might without permission but I can ask. If they are okay with it then I have hi-res photos. Will come back on this.

Thank you kindly! If it helps, I'm with an historical reenactment group. They may be interested in seeing us. We're at www.renscots.org

**MacBean** · 7th February 11, 08:28 AM

Originally Posted by figheadair

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

hmm, I can't see them. Did you have to withdraw them again? thanks for the thread though.

**SlackerDrummer** · 7th February 11, 08:31 AM

Originally Posted by MacBean

hmm, I can't see them. Did you have to withdraw them again? thanks for the thread though.

I didn't know there were pictures of the fronts until I logged in at home last night on a different computer. Today at work again, only the backs.

**xman** · 7th February 11, 09:12 AM

Originally Posted by nighthawk

www.renscots.org

Nice!

**Nighthawk** · 7th February 11, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by xman

Nice!

[OffTopic]
Yessir, it's a great group! If you have a FaceBook account, look me up- Travis Butterworth- and check out the photo galleries of our events. We also have an official FaceBook presence as the Ren Scots. [/OffTopic]

Back on topic now!

**figheadair** · 8th February 11, 12:45 AM

Originally Posted by MacBean

hmm, I can't see them. Did you have to withdraw them again? thanks for the thread though.

Originally Posted by SlackerDrummer

I didn't know there were pictures of the fronts until I logged in at home last night on a different computer. Today at work again, only the backs.

Opps. A housekeeping error. They're back up on the OP.