Too plush or not too plush

[Tobus]

It's a daywear sporran, but I was wearing a brown, rabid fur sporran with leather sides, binding, and flap in the picture you commented on in the corduroy jacket thread, Tobus. It's just a Stillwater sporran, and has the same basic shape and size as their other daywear sporrans. Guess it has rabit fur tassels on chains, though.

I went back and looked at it again. And while I'm not a huge fan of rabbit's foot tassels, I think the sporran overall looks very good. It's not even close to being a "fluffy" sporran. To me, your sporran is an example of rabbit fur looking good on a sporran because the sporran shape and construction is well suited to it.

[artificer]

Yes, exactly! Those nicer furs have a sleekness and body to them that rabbit doesn't.

I'd almost put angora goat in a different class though... the length makes it feel more like a horsehair sporran.

I suppose you're correct on the goat, but it is definitely PLUSH.

ith:

[Gregmc]

Ok, I'm looking at getting a full dress sporran, but am confused by those shown on websites.
In his e-book, "Kilts & Tartan - Made Easy", Nick Fiddes says that they generally have 'a body dressed in fur (or some other lush material)', and most searches indeed bring back fluffy sporrans.
A few have the same style of cantle but have decorated leather instead of 'plush' bodies.
What are peoples views on non-plush full dress sporrans?

Sporrans are a bit like belt buckles and a matter of taste: what types of suits do you wear for instance? Shoes? What is your version of smart casual? Do you own a tux?

Find a sporran that you find attractive and represents your taste. Don't worry; but I would avoid the Piper's sporran unless you play. Caual fur sporrans sold in the states are usually of bovine, and dress of rabbit or some synthetic. Consider your sett as well: dress sporrans shouldn't take over your color scheme, but enhance the eniter look. Study some historic pictures of clan chiefs as well. Buying online can be a difficult thing. If you have the ability to copy, pastes and tile your sett, you can copy and paste different sporrans onto your tartan and shop hat way. Better yet, if there is a shop you can walk into with a woven scarf sample, that is the best way to go.

[Bugbear]

I went back and looked at it again. And while I'm not a huge fan of rabbit's foot tassels, I think the sporran overall looks very good. It's not even close to being a "fluffy" sporran. To me, your sporran is an example of rabbit fur looking good on a sporran because the sporran shape and construction is well suited to it.

Thanks. Actually, the tassels are just a small piece of rabbit fur rolled up into a cone shape and glued inside of a metal ball; I don't think they're intended to look like rabbit feet. The ball and chain of each tassel are antiqued, or maybe just painted brown.

This is a link to the Celtic Croft dress sporran I have.
http://www.kilts-n-stuff.com/kilt/sp...me-cantle.html

I kind of like the idea of black leather without fur, but...

[CMcG]

I suppose you're correct on the goat, but it is definitely PLUSH.

ith:

Indeed, angora goat sets the standard for plush

Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on the fuzzy bunny sporrans either though, as I'm sure there are nicer examples than the red one I posted. Bugbear's, for example, looks nice as a 'semi-dress' sporran (the scare quotes are there because I know how much Jock hates that term).

Does anyone own a nice quality, formal, plush, rabbit sporran?