Dicing on bonnets

[BBNC]

Is there any significance to the dicing patterns and colors found on bonnets? I realize of course, that military units and pipe bands will have uniformity, but what about the rest of us?

My other question: is a Kilmarnock the same as a Balmoral?

[Harold Cannon]

One person explained to me that there used to be a significance as to barons as it was to mimic the look of a mural crown which used to be the sign of a baron. MacMillan of Rathdown may be able to shed more light on this.

[JohntheBiker]

I think that the answer to your questions is no and no.

There might have been some significance to dicing at some point in time but there are so many different unsubstantiated versions that you should take these with a grain of salt.

[creagdhubh]

I do believe this topic has been addressed from time to time on the forum before and the general consensus was that the dicing on Highland bonnets are purely decorative. Though, dicing or the coquet pattern can be found on the armorial bearings of various Highland and Lowland gentlemen, though especially pronounced with the Stewarts (Stuarts).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Stewart

[BBNC]

I think that the answer to your questions is no and no.

There might have been some significance to dicing at some point in time but there are so many different unsubstantiated versions that you should take these with a grain of salt.

If a Kilmarnock and a Balmoral are different, what is the difference?

[BCAC]

If a Kilmarnock and a Balmoral are different, what is the difference?

Try googling the two terms. You will easily see the difference.

[Phil]

There is a school of thought that dicing was to symbolise allegience to the then crown i.e. the Hanoverians. Not the most popular dynasty in that they were the royals during the War of Independence. This may, of course, just be the usual sort of rubbish that circulates here from time to time regarding the origins of highland dress but if you do wish to avoid any possible sign of allegiance to the 18th century British Crown perhaps best avoided.

[pbutts]

If a Kilmarnock and a Balmoral are different, what is the difference?

Google's fine, and you can use it to search specific sites like this, but the XMTS search does just fine -- here's a useful thread re: kilmarnock bonnets:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...landers-77861/

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

To quote Sir Thomas Innes of Learney, sometime Lord Lyon, writing in 1938 (The Tartans of the Clans and Families of Scotland):

" The term chevtaine is definitely employed in early heraldic literature, and 'A cheivetayn's hedd chappelled embattled Or' appears in an heraldic badge in 1562. This "chieftain's embattled cap," inscribed with its owner's title like a sailor's cap, is obviously the origin of the later stiff and unnatural-looking Mural Crown, which (tinctured Or) has become more or less confined to persons with high military authority..."

Sir Thomas then goes on to say:

"It seems not unlikely that this medieval chieftain's bonnet survives not merely in the Mural Crown of heraldry, but in the diced borders of military Highland bonnets. This border in its more primitive form was a broad surround of very large checks, a noticeable feature of the bonnet in which the Duchess of Gordon went recruiting."

I don't think it is too big a leap of logic to suggest that the diced border was originally intended to denote those persons with the authority to call out the men of the clan for military service, and that with the passage of time came it came to be a mark, although not universal in its application, of those serving in the military.

[creagdhubh]

To quote Sir Thomas Innes of Learney, sometime Lord Lyon, writing in 1938 (The Tartans of the Clans and Families of Scotland):

" The term chevtaine is definitely employed in early heraldic literature, and 'A cheivetayn's hedd chappelled embattled Or' appears in an heraldic badge in 1562. This "chieftain's embattled cap," inscribed with its owner's title like a sailor's cap, is obviously the origin of the later stiff and unnatural-looking Mural Crown, which (tinctured Or) has become more or less confined to persons with high military authority..."

Sir Thomas then goes on to say:

"It seems not unlikely that this medieval chieftain's bonnet survives not merely in the Mural Crown of heraldry, but in the diced borders of military Highland bonnets. This border in its more primitive form was a broad surround of vary large checks, a noticeable feature of the bonnet in which the Duchess of Gordon went recruiting."

I don't think it is too big a leap of logic to suggest that the diced border was originally intended to denote those persons with the authority to call out the men of the clan for military service, and that with the passage of time came it came to be a mark, although not universal in its application, of those serving in the military.

Very, very interesting, Scott. Thanks for sharing.