Custom sporran

**MacBean** · 23rd October 09, 12:53 PM

At the Clan Chattan Band of Union resigning in Inverness I noticed that the chiefs mostly had antique simple-brass-cantle with brown-leather sporrans, though a few dispensed with the cantled sporran on field trips, and one went for the formal long hair sporran for ceremonies. I liked the look of the old brass cantles and am surprised that they are not made anymore. There are brass cantles but they tend to be ornate - and may be plated rather than solid. It is possible that some of the brass sporrans might be old, as the Chattan chiefdoms are as old as can be, I didn't ask.

So I am looking for my first sporran, and wondered how difficult it would be to have a custom cantle made - or whether there might be a market if one made a mold?

Completely separate issue. I happen to have a cheetah coat which keeps an old wooden statue from Sulawesi warm in my library. It belonged to my Godmother who was in service in Ethiopia. The cheetah skin could be cut into a number of sporrans if I wanted, though I'm not sure how that might look as cheetah is a short-haired cat. It might simply too exotic (and perhaps disconnected from me as I have never been to Africa). Opinions?

**Standard** · 23rd October 09, 01:48 PM

I too like the look of the old brass cantled sporrans. It seems that some of the photos of HRH shows him wearing just such a sporran (although it could just as easily be gold

) A brass cantle and a dark brown sporran would look pretty sharp IMHO.

**sfb** · 23rd October 09, 02:34 PM

I'm sort of thinking about investing in a new dress sporran, and the idea of a brass cantle crossed my mind, as I have a nice old kilt belt with a brass buckle.

In truth, I'm not sure whether it would really work in a formal setting - too many shiny silver buttons on my jacket(!) - but I did at least find one to have a look at, on MacGregor & Macduff's website. Probably a wee bit fancier than you were looking for?

Oh, and that cheetah sporran idea sounds quite something. Not sure if anyone could tell you whether it would work in advance!

Sign me up for one if you ever decide to go ahead though.

**McMurdo** · 23rd October 09, 04:14 PM

I think a Cheetah sporran could be quite striking it puts me in mind of Henry of Battenburg

I know someone who was getting a vintage style sporran made, with a vintage brass cantle, I was very jealous at the time as yet I've not heard any more about it and can not recall who is making it for him.