Purchase Item
Targe
(from Old Franconian *targa "shield", Proto-Germanic *targo "border") was a general word for shield in late Old English. Its diminutive target came to mean an object to be aimed at in the 18th century.
From Wikipedia
From the 13th century onward, the concave, circular shield commonly called a targe, in Gaelic targaid, ranging in size from 18" to 21" in diameter was carried in battle. Constructed primarily of iron or iron-plated wood, the inside of the targe was formed from two very thin layers of flat wooden boards, with the grain of each layer at right angles to the other and fitted together with small wooden pegs forming a kind of plywood. Covered with a tough cowhide and decorated with both embossed Celtic patterns, brass plates sometimes featuring cutouts backed with red cloth (traditionally taken from a British uniform jacket) and many brass, and in rare cases silver, nails that served to enhance the strength as well as affix the hide to the base of the targe; backs were usually covered in deerskin. The resulting construction allowed its bearer to be protected from bayonet thrust or musket ball. The targe served as the primary means of protecting a Scotsman in battle until Culloden, when targes were destroyed and, like wearing the tartan, carrying one was banned.
Much like an original targe, Malcolm's beautiful cufflinks are adorned with the whorls of intricate design. His elaborate hand engraving captured in the subsequent casting, a gold bead provides reference to the central boss of the targe. The protection implied by the ancient targe held at the wrist by leather straps now with a pure silver backing chain and angled bar (also a unique Malcolm Appleby design) hold the targe dome in perfect balance against a French-cuff.
Because of their reference to knights doing battle, your purchase of Malcolm's Targes Cufflinks will serve to benefit the Rosslyn Chapel and its battle against the ravages of time.
