A cap-badge carved from bone?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I'm not a fan of showing too much metal if I'm wearing daywear, but I've been wanting a Balmoral in green lovat or fawn, and would like to sport a McLaren clan cap-badge.

I've just asked a bone-carver for a quote to have one made from 'bovine ivory'. It'd be a slightly stylised and simplified version of the usual crest, but I've a feeling it could look good.

Do you think it's a good idea?

I think it is an excellent idea as long as it looks like a clansman's badge. In other words, you have to make sure that the "Lions head erased, crowned with an antique crown, between two branches of laurel issuing from the wreath on either side of the head" isn't altered, and the crest is encircled "within a stap and buckle". The execution of these design elements is up to the artisan, however he is not a liberty to change any of the elements.

Are there any implications to consider?

There are three things to consider: (1) With the passage of time cow bones can become "furry"; (2) Bone is brittle, and a clan crest can take a lot of hard knocks... breakage may be an issue. (3) You may not paint the crest. Wearing the badge in colour is the prerogative of the chief. Clansmen display his crest as a badge, usually in metal, but always in monochrome.

Has anyone thought of this before?

Probably, but I doubt you'll run into anything similar at your local Scottish games!