(Listening to Frank Bridge's piano sonata from 1921-4, haven't heard this in years so will listen carefully after I get this down!... , but saw something that made me think of this...
Shield --> crest --> toothpaste --> defends against tartar! --> Tartars --> early Eastern Europe (e.g. Andrei Rublev. Must see that again!!) --> shield --> crest (rinse, repeat)