Ghillie Brogue style sporran?

[OC Richard]

Very interesting. I've not seen a sporran like this before. What do you-all think?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-Ghilli...item2a41625595

Here's the photo from the auction

[CMcG]

I think it looks pretty cool Kind of a variation on the traditional theme without departing too far.

I wonder what @artificer would say?

The listing reads:

"Black Full Leather Ghillie Brogue Style Sporran with a Contrasting Stitching

Based on the dress ghillie brogue shoe this is a fantastic new design.

Suitable as a day or dress sporran

100 % Black leather sporran - handcrafted in Scotland using traditional techniques."

While it looks quite nice, I wouldn't call it a dress sporran as in suitable for black or white tie. It could work with daywear, whether smart casual, tweeds, or morning dress.

[Norbo]

I like it but I think id like tassels on it .

[OC Richard]

It does bring up the historical question as to why one traditional item of Highland leatherworking (ghillie brogues) should have a different approach than another traditional item of Highland leatherworking (sporrans).

I would guess that it's 'form follows function' and the decorative holes in modern ghillie brogues are descended from drainage holes in early footwear; sporrans want to keep everything in.

[Carlo]

I like it but I think id like tassels on it .

They are called laces and will be wrapped around your belly

I think it would look better with a different gusset attachement and same colour stiching.

[creagdhubh]

Well, it's certainly different. Different meaning "unique," and a style in which I've never seen before. However, I honestly don't see this being used as a "dress" sporran. Especially given the broguing and contrast stitching. To my eye, that screams daywear.

[OC Richard]

I like it but I think id like tassels on it .

Here ya go

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Black-Bovine...item2a41626d5e

but fur too. Here's the photo from the Ebay auction



This is my favourite of the lot, in brown

[artificer]

I think it looks pretty cool Kind of a variation on the traditional theme without departing too far.

I wonder what @artificer would say?

I certainly wouldn't call it a dress sporran.
It's not bad, but it looks like it was designed by someone who really didn't look all that hard at the way broguing is actually laid out.

$_12.JPG

IMO The scale difference between the large and small holes is off (the small holes are too large), the spacing is sort of lazy (too wide a gap between the singles and pairs).
In at least two spots the stitching runs INTO the broguing (the thing about contrast stitching is that it really stands out, )

The detail person in me is troubled by the double stitch on the body and the single stitch lines on the flap. If it were black stitching I don't think I'd have quite
the same reaction.

Two other things that would have made this piece look nicer would be:
a pinked edge on the inside of the flap's stitching (making the brogued area an overlay trim), and a better design for the pattern on the body.

To compare: Allen Edmonds' McAllister Wingtip
allenedmonds_shoes_mcallister_black_l.jpg

And a brogued hunting sporran I made:


detail shot:


ith:

[creagdhubh]

Excellent points, Scott. Fantastic visual examples too.

[OC Richard]

Good points yes.

The decoration on the front of those sporrans (in the OP) does look rather like a 'cut and paste' job from the design perspective.

The decoration on wingtips, as in ancient Celtic art, is made to fit the shape of the area which is decorated.

It would be nice to have a sporran like the OP one with more thought put into the layout of the decoration so that it fits the shape of the area. Also it would be nice to have the big swirly bits often seen on wingtips.

The modern tendency to use 'clip art' design is an ever-present (though slight) annoyance to me.

Anyhow I found some nice photos of classic patterns