Tartan of the Month - July. What do you see?

[piperdown]

I'd like you to continue. I know zip about anything so I don't respond but I enjoy the reading.

I know nothing either but enjoy the threads.

[Morris at Heathfield]

Hm, not sure what more I can figure out about the tartan from the photograph that I haven't already. I suppose I'll make a haphazard guess as to the location where it was found: Mar.

By the way, I've read about a hypothesis that all or most of the tartans predating the Proscription can be divided (roughly by geography) into three or four types. Jamie Scarlett recognized three types: the Ross type worn north of the Great Glen, the Mackintosh type worn in the Grampians, and the Macdonald type worn in the west. I have a book that gives four types: Huntly, Glenorchy, Lochaber, and Lennox. What's your take on the idea, Peter?

[Nick the DSM]

Looks like the Galloway district tartan.

[figheadair]

Looks like the Galloway district tartan.

It does have some similarities but that's a c1950s tartan. You at least 150 years out.

[figheadair]

Hm, not sure what more I can figure out about the tartan from the photograph that I haven't already. I suppose I'll make a haphazard guess as to the location where it was found: Mar.

Very haphazard. Why Mar? Actually, that's about as far off beam as it's possible to get.

By the way, I've read about a hypothesis that all or most of the tartans predating the Proscription can be divided (roughly by geography) into three or four types. Jamie Scarlett recognized three types: the Ross type worn north of the Great Glen, the Mackintosh type worn in the Grampians, and the Macdonald type worn in the west. I have a book that gives four types: Huntly, Glenorchy, Lochaber, and Lennox. What's your take on the idea, Peter?

You may want to post this as a separate thread as it's a huge subject and one that has been discussed before I'm sure, probably in the context of district tartans. I'm broadly in agreement with the concept of regional groupings but not necessarily with Jamie Scarlett's classification. Historically I certainly don't recognise the four types you quote. The trouble is that previous writers have based their ideas on groups that include post c1780 setts in which I include: Huntly, Lochaber and Lennox.

I'm working on a paper that I hope will prove the existance of a generic Applin/Lorn/Lochaber setting based on several pre-'45 specimens.

[Morris at Heathfield]

I guessed Mar mostly because I hadn't guessed it before. Perhaps Inverness is a more likely choice.

[figheadair]

I guessed Mar mostly because I hadn't guessed it before. Perhaps Inverness is a more likely choice.

Or perhaps not. It's nearly the end of the month and all will be revealed. what I will say at this stage is that it is the oldest surviving version of this particular clan's tartan.

[Nick the DSM]

Man, this is bugging me. I can see the pattern that I recognize but don't know what it is!

Kinda fun though!

[figheadair]

Man, this is bugging me. I can see the pattern that I recognize but don't know what it is!

Kinda fun though!

Look again, look for the error and see if that helps.

[Morris at Heathfield]

what I will say at this stage is that it is the oldest surviving version of this particular clan's tartan.

Let's see, the possibilities include: Mackintosh, MacDonell of Keppoch, MacDonald of Glencoe, Stewart of Appin, MacDougall, Grant/Drummond...am I missing any? If we take the Vestiarium Scoticum seriously, Robertson and Chisholm look like possibilities too.

Based on those salmon stripes and the triangulation of two wrong guesses I'm leaning towards Lorne now.