Kilt pin advice

[Prisoneratvillage]

I am having a difficult time finding a kilt pin. Nothing I have seen appeals to me. So does anyone have a
gold or silversmith they would recommend? Or perhaps a dealer who has vintage pins.
Thanks, Tom s

[thescot]

Try House of Labhran; theirs is a bit pricey but real antique.

Also, check ebay and etsy. Things come and go on there all the time.

There was a long discussion of kilt pins a few times on here. You could do some searching to make sure you consider all avenues.

[Prisoneratvillage]

Thank you, I should have thought to look at other postings. Certainly will now.
Thanks for the suggestions.

[Tarheel]

Tom, I use a broach that my wife's mother had in the 1950's. My favorite is sterling, 2 inches round, has a stone in the center and has enough weight the hold the apron down in a brisk wind.

As suggested, second hand stores, estate auctions and antique shops will have good results.

[Prisoneratvillage]

I think that's great. Now that I think about it I have a lot of jewelry from Mom when she passed. One with a nice red Garnet in the center.
Never occurred to me to think in that direction. Thank you for the nod.

[Terry Searl]

Try House of Labhran; theirs is a bit pricey but real antique.

Also, check ebay and etsy. Things come and go on there all the time.

There was a long discussion of kilt pins a few times on here. You could do some searching to make sure you consider all avenues.

Believe it or not check the thrift shops....often you will find some "treasures"

[OC Richard]

I am having a difficult time finding a kilt pin. Nothing I have seen appeals to me.

I'll stop at that point in your query because first I would like to find out two things:

1) Are you looking for a kilt pin per se, or any sort of pin in general?

What I'm getting at, to give an example: you can wrap many different sorts things around your neck (a length of yarn, a beach-towel, a sash, or what have you) but our culture has developed purpose-made things designed to be worn around the neck, called neckties.

Likewise you can attach all sorts of things to your kilt, but Highland Dress has developed purpose-made things designed to be pinned onto a kilt apron, called kilt pins.

2) You said nothing you've seen appeals to you. What sorts of things have you been looking at?

When I first got interested in Highland Dress, back in the mid-1970s, something that made a big impact on me was getting The Scottish Shopper catalogue. I was particularly intrigued by a full-page photo showing a range of traditional sterling silver kilt pins. They were beautiful. So I, from the get-go, had some notion of what traditional kilt pins looked like.

You can find a number of traditional kilt pins on Ebay at any given time. A mid-20th-century maker of iconic traditional kilt pins (and brooches etc) was Robert Allison.

Here are some lovely Robert Allison kilt pins on Ebay now. All of these designs were on that Scottish Shopper page, I do believe.









This is another common old style, perhaps an RA pin



I think these sorts of kilt pins evolved in the first half of the 20th century, I could be wrong.

Interesting that in the 19th century, when a multitude of weaponry was often worn with the kilt, kilt pins were relatively uncommon, and when you did see them they were usually round clan-crest badges, or plain blanket pins.

In the 20th century when Highland Dress became more simplified and streamlined kilt pins became more common, and moreover often depicted the very weapons which were no longer being worn.

If instead of kilt pins, your question is about the wearing of other sorts of objects on the kilt, I have no advice to give.

Personally I rarely wear a kilt pin, or any sort of pin or other object on my kilt.

[Prisoneratvillage]

Thank you for the photos, I do favor the first purple example. I am looking for
a pin which has exceptional definition. To give an idea, the obverse of a St Gaudins 20 dollar gold piece
has that type of look. It has dimension and stands out. A lot of pins I have seen at the NH games were nice,
but you had to be on top of them to see the details. One of the more exceptional pins was fashioned as a Penny Farthing
bicycle, at a distance the silver wire for the spokes provided a nice contrast. Not looking to overpower the kilt, just add
a modest flash. The purple pin has that kind of contrast with the tarnished areas that catch the eye, where the all silver sword
fourth down does not. My intent is not to reinvent the wheel, and I am not one to stray too far from tradition. I think all
of us know it when we see it. I don't want a pin just to have a pin, it has to appeal. Forgive the long winded explanation, I am
going to take the advice I've been given and look carefully.
Thank you, I appreciate the advice.
Tom S

[Tarheel]

As mentioned before, the kilt pin I use can also be placed on my glengarry (as in this photo). The patina is from lack of time to polish. This pin reminds me of a shield.

[Prisoneratvillage]

I like your pin. The slight tarnish give it character and old feel look.
I think being able to use it on the cap is a plus as well.