Part 2

This Target is covered with strong black leather, the Celtic ornamentation on it, which is highly artistic in character, being embossed in delicate relief, with the spaces around the pattern carefully and closely etched with a sharp point in a sort of endless cross-hatching, thus producing a dim flattened surface, and giving value to the raised design, which almost entirely covers the surface, leaving no space for any of the brass decorations so common on Highland targets. In the centre is the double headed eagle of the Macdonalds Lords of the Isles.

II.

HIGHLAND TARGETS.

The two first are in the Museum of the Society of Antiquaries. The one is of an early type and is bound with brass. On the outer circle of the design is stamped a series of rude attempts at birds. It originally has had a spike. The same class of ornamentation having been in use with little variation from an early period, it is no easy matter to affix dates to Highland and Scandinavian weapons of any sort, in such a specimen as this, however, age is unmistakeable. The second is of a pattern not unusual, with mountings of large bosses and triangular decorations of brass. The third is of chaste and symmetrical design, and the last is curious, from having worked upon it initials and a date as part of the pattern--D. M‘L. 1723.

III.

HIGHLAND TARGETS.

The first is elaborate and uncommon in the design upon the leather, and is more than usually rich in the variety of its brass decoration, it has originally had a large central boss. This fine specimen was the family target of the Campbells of Jura, and now belongs to Mr Gourlay Steell, R.S.A. The others are very good illustrations of the ordinary class of Old Highland targets.

IV.

BRONZE SHIELDS.

The large shield is one of two found in 1837, during drain-making operations near Yetholm, they are nearly similar in size and pattern. Shortly after they were found, the gentleman to whom they belonged exhibited them at a meeting of the Society of Antiquaries; but after his death, they seem to have been so little cared for, that they were thrown into a garret with other lumber, of the antiquarian kind, and when the establishment was broken up, were bought with the rest as a _speculative lot_ of Chinese curiosities for a few shillings; but the purchaser fortunately offered them for sale at the Museum. This is a good illustration how many valuables of this kind go amissing or find their way to the melting-pot. Since then another was turned up in Yetholm Bog by a ploughman. Such shields have been found in England and Wales as well as in Scotland. In Ireland they are more rare, and among these few the plate represents one lately got in Lough Gur, County Limerick.

V.

VARIOUS SHIELDS FOR COMPARISON.

The first is a shield of crocodile’s skin from Nubia, when made of this material they were very highly prized by the natives, and consequently not often met with in collections. This specimen is in the Antiquarian Museum. They were oftener made from hippopotamus skin. The next is oriental and of buffalo hide, and below it is a Dutch or German shield of iron on a strong framework of wood, the iron covering having a series of triangular studs struck up on its surface, while a number of circular pointed ones are rivetted on it, surrounding the large central boss. The other is a steel or iron shield of a class sometimes shewn in Scotland as Highland, but in reality the same as were used in other European countries.

VI.

ROMAN LEGIONARY SCULPTURED STONE.

This splendid slab was found in 1868 on a rocky promontory within ten yards of the sea, close by the harbour of Bridgeness, Linlithgowshire, it was face down, and covered by about two feet of soil. It is divided into three panels, the centre one being an inscription dedicatory to their emperor by the second legion on the completion of a portion of the wall of Antoninus, about A.D. 150. The panel to the right of the inscription has sculptured on it a Roman soldier, having a rounded shield with boss, galloping over some of the natives, who have oblong square shields with circular bosses. On the other is a group by an altar. This interesting relic was presented to the Antiquarian Museum by Harry Cadell, of Grange, Esquire.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Plate VI.

[2] Museum of the Antiquaries.

[3] Plate IV.

[4] Plate V.

[5] Plates II., III.

[6] Lady of the Lake.

[7] Plate I.