18th/19th Century Sporran Tassel Construction

[myrmiddon]

Hello All,

Can anyone advise on construction techniques of late 18th/early 19th horsehair tassels
for regimental/civilian sporrans? I'm thinking specifically of the 97th Regiment sporran
owned by the NMS, but am curious about anything from that period. Specifically, how
is the horsehair bundled, and then attached to the cord, and the leather sleeve applied?
It seems like it would be a simple matter, but maybe not, being unable to view how everything
is run together.

Any help appreciated!

Cheers,

Alex

[figheadair]

Alex,

I don't know the answer per se but the style of the 97nd one is similar to Lt Bramwell's 92nd one from 1814, albeit that that one has outer metal cones over the leather. Similar to to two civilian ones from about the same time. There's nothing like being able to example an original, None of these are immediately accessible but the bottom right belongs to the Scottish Tartans Authority which I can get access to once the V&A Tartan exhibition is over in January.



There are a couple of collectors in Scotland who might know the answer, I've discussed with one and we've both come to the conclusion that neither knows the answer. From looking at some from the early Victorian era it seems that what went on under the bell was a bit random and not always that tidy. Out of sight, out of mind.

[myrmiddon]

Hello Figheadair,

Amazing what a puzzle the smallest of seeming little details are when you think about them, eh? I appreciate your looking into this for me, and any help would be most gratefully received. The answer is probably simple, but until you know, you don't really know. Many thanks ahead of time!

Cheers,

Alex

[Troglodyte]

Do these pictures help..?

It is a London Scottish OR sporran from the 1914-18 war era, and the construction appears to be the same as that on a c1890 of the same style that I have, and also of those of mid-20th century hair sporrans.

There must be a limited number of options for tasselling horse-hair, so the desired effect and result will have been decided upon fairly early in their use, and what my picture shows is likely to have been a well-established method by the mid-19th century.

The technique appears to be to take a length of hair of the desired quantity, and fold it over a thin cord or thread at the middle point of the hair. The ends of the cord are wound around the hair tightly at the top of the tassel, and then again lightly further down, and tied-off. This portion is covered by the cone.

The cone itself adds a form of compression to the top of the tassel, that encourages the hair lower down to spread slightly and so give the characteristic appearance.

The tip of the tassel is attached to the suspension chain (or whatever might be used) by a few stitches of thread through the last link. I have also seen wire used for attaching the chain, both as the original methed and as a repair.

My assumption has always bee that the sporran-maker used whatever method he found most convenient and expedient at the time - which was not always the best, strongest or most durable.

The hair on the body of the sporran is now mostly strands of hair folded over a cord and tied in place, to form a long strand of fringing. This cord is then attached to the body of the sporran in a zig-zag way so that the danging hair covers the cords of the lower levels. This is often done over a sheepskin or similar under-layer to give the hanging hair a bit more bulk.

I recently had the chance to examine and study in detail two horse-hair sporrans that are known to date from c1840, which use a totally different technique. These use the pelt taken from around the base of the horse's tail with all the hair still attached to the skin. The skin has been attached to the sporran using a series of sewn-down pleats and folds which give a fair amount of bulk, but these have no tassels. See pics.

[Troglodyte]

Previous picture up-load failed.

So try again. Tassel construction on LS sporran.

[figheadair]

Previous picture up-load failed.

So try again. Tassel construction on LS sporran.

Very useful, thanks.

Here's another technique, one which I don't pretend to understand fully. It is from a c.1815 sporran in which there are no bells on the tassels but I assume the same technique could have been used and a wide/round top bell added.

This one has three layers: hair; fine cord; and fine metal thread, all formed over a bead of some sort which was presumably attached to the chain first.