Quote Originally Posted by Tobus View Post
I seem to recall a discussion about civilian use of dicing on bonnets a long time ago, but I guess I've forgotten the details. What are the earliest examples of civilian diced bonnets that pre-date the military ones?
Pre date, I dont think I can say that. But David Allan's Highland Wedding at Blair Castle painting from the 1780's show them being worn by both military and civilians at the same time.








In my studies I have found the following ways to decorate the brow band and or bottom of a bonnet:

1. Nothing; the most common, medium to dark blue bonnet with no contrasting color.

2. Small knots of a contrasting color set up slightly from the brow band, the earliest treatment, found on a bog burial bonnet.



3. Solid red band, set up from the actual brow band. Ive only seen this in military portraits of mid to late 18th Century

4. Interrupted red band. Ive only seen one bonnet of this style, an actual bonnet in the Fort Ligonier collection. Red/blue




5. Solid red brow band, something that is seen on military officers, but not on any enlisted or civilians to the best of my memory.

6. Applied decoration of 2 color tapes braided together. Seen only on IIRC 2 1770's era portraits.

7. Zig Zag dicing, on 2 portraits, one late 18th Century, another early 19th Century (Glengarry himself and this one: https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/15265/lot/184/




8. 3 Color dicing, usually red, white and green, numerous portraits both military and civilian, starting in the 1770's thru mid 19th. I believe that one regiment, the 84th Royal Highland Emigrants used Red, white and a lighter blue than their dark blue bonnets.



Alexander Robertson, 15th Clan Chief 1784



Portrait of Donald McIntyre, 1830 by Sir Edwin Landseer

On these last 2 styles, I know they are not hard/fast rules, during the world wars many regiments used what was available on the market at time of raising.......

9. 3 Color dicing, red, white and black, what I would call modern military dicing, mid to late 19th cent thru today.
10. 2 Color dicing bonnet colour and white, I think of this as civilian dicing, I don't know exactly when that style came into play, 1970's till now?