In The Highlanders Of Scotland, which includes 56 portraits of kilted men painted in the 1860s, it can be seen that at that time kilt pins were uncommon, and when they were worn they didn't look like the sorts of kilt pins which have come down to us from the early 20th century (the familiar swords, dirks, axes, etc).
Of the 56, 34 portraits show the area where a kilt pin would be.
27 of the 34 have the kilt plain there, without kilt pin or ribbons.
Only 6 have kilt pins. 4 of the 6 are circular, either plain or bearing a clan crest.
One is a plain open oval, one is a complex design.
One kilt has bows/rosettes/ribbons.
I can't recall seeing any kilt pins in 18th century portraits.
So were I doing a historical costume I wouldn't use a kilt pin.
Last edited by OC Richard; 15th March 16 at 07:43 PM.
Proud Mountaineer from the Highlands of West Virginia; son of the Revolution and Civil War; first Europeans on the Guyandotte
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I suspected it was Victorian at the earliest and probably later.
I've none. I'm not really going for authenticity, just trying not to mix and match too much. Probably all for naught as regardless of what kilt I wear this weekend I'll have on my coisiche monaidh ghillie brogues (hiking boots--my feet ain't what they used to be and they're the only shoes I've got I can last all day in.)
I was thinking I might just use a cap badge if I felt the need. Maybe not.
Slàinte mhath!
Freep is not a slave to fashion.
Aut pax, aut bellum.
Originally Posted by The Wizard of BC
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