Full Mask Sporrans, Good for What Ails You?

[Bugbear]

I want to make sure I understand this correctly. As far as I can tell from reading, a full mask sporran can be acceptably worn with Highland attire from ultra casual to white tie formal; a "the only sporran you need" type sporran.

If this is the case, then what are the guidelines for an acceptable full mask sporran?

[Chas]

Hi Ted,

The thing that ails me is the lack of a full mask sporran.

Joking aside, I think that it must be a mammal. We've seen a couple of bird (feather) ones here and a couple of ones with scales (fish and snake). The feather ones are not robust enough to be an all day every day sporran. Snake skin full mask sporrans are just menacing and ugly.

Anything larger than a fox or badger mask are getting too big - squirrel would be too small (except for a child). So anything in between would be OK - I think.

Regards

Chas

[Bugbear]

Hmmm...

I think there was some talk of cougar sporrans, or something like that, a while back.

From what I understand, the head of the beast is supposed to be flattened out rather than a head sticking out of the front of the sporran...

We'll see where the thread goes.

[Phil]

There was a lady selling full mask sporans at the Gathering last weekend. She even had a pheasant and a duck one! Quite apart from the price tags - £445 each - I personally wouldn't have one. Give me one of Grant's rubber chickens any day.

[Chas]

Hmmm...

I think there was some talk of cougar sporrans, or something like that, a while back.

From what I understand, the head of the beast is supposed to be flattened out rather than a head sticking out of the front of the sporran...

We'll see where the thread goes.

I can say that I don't really know, but I thought that the mask was supposed to have the skull still in - or is that not the case? There must come a limit to the amount of weight that a person can easily (or comfortably) carry round their waist.

I agree - let's see where this goes.

Regards

Chas

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Some amount of taxidermy is generally done on full mask sporrans. I've seen two extremes. One is no taxidermy at all where the animal mask simply lies flat, limply on the front of the sporran. These have never looked right to me as part of a contemporary kilt outfit -- it looks too "rough".

On the other extreme, there is a vendor I see a lot at the Highland Games here in the southeast that has very taxidermied sporrans where the sporran mask may protrude out a good 8" or more from the wearer. Some people just love those sporrans, but I think they are a bit over the top.

A good mask sporran, in my opinion, should have enough taxidermy to give the mask a bit of shape and deminsion, but it should still lie rather flat.

We carry L&M's full line of mask sporrans, my personal favorite of which is the badger.



See:
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/sporran_mask.html

You mention the suitability of these sporrans for all occasions. I don't know if I would go so far as to say they are good for "ultra-casual" wear (I'm picturing someone wearing one with their instakilt and flip flops at the pool!), but they are certainly appropriate for both daywear and eveningwear.

[Electrickilt]

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[Fit2BKilted]

Some amount of taxidermy is generally done on full mask sporrans. I've seen two extremes. One is no taxidermy at all where the animal mask simply lies flat, limply on the front of the sporran. These have never looked right to me as part of a contemporary kilt outfit -- it looks too "rough".

On the other extreme, there is a vendor I see a lot at the Highland Games here in the southeast that has very taxidermied sporrans where the sporran mask may protrude out a good 8" or more from the wearer. Some people just love those sporrans, but I think they are a bit over the top.

A good mask sporran, in my opinion, should have enough taxidermy to give the mask a bit of shape and dimension, but it should still lie rather flat.

We carry L&M's full line of mask sporrans, my personal favorite of which is the badger.



See:
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/sporran_mask.html

<drool> I'm extremely fond of the Badger & Skunk sporrans, as well as the Beaver (if only for nationalistic association)... I think I would like my eventual full-mask sporran to have appropriately selected glass eyes at least; but, I also agree that protrusion more than a couple inches would be too much! (It just makes me think of the Black Adder "cod-piece" bit).

Now, I'm wondering what a Woodchuck/Ground-hog/Gopher mask-sporran would be like... I'm sure it would be popular on the Golf Course! ;-)

[ I will also proudly wear sealskin, even if their heads are too large for mask-sporrans. ]

[EagleJCS]

I have a full-mask badger sporran that is similar to the one Matt pictured. The head has been shaped to a life-like appearance, with glass eyes. Since the head hangs down while I'm standing, it doesn't stare everyone in the face as I approach. (I don't think most people can even see it has a 'face' until I sit down). Mine also has three horse-hair tassels (the middle one shows just under the chin). It doesn't stick out a lot from my perspective.

In addition to the inimitable Mr. Newsome, Scotty Thompson (author of So You're Going to Wear the Kilt) also says that the full mask sporran is appropriate for day wear and evening wear. That would include any time during the day that you would normally wear a plain leather sporran through the most formal white-tie rig.

[Tattoo Bradley]

I'm like Matt, I think a bit of taxidermy (but not too much) is really necessary. I also am fond of the L&M mask sporrans and own one of theirs in skunk.