Tan Accessories - Where Have They All Gone?

[davidlpope]

Duplicate post.

[artificer]

Right. I think it requires a napped leather for the blanco to stick.

I do agree it's a shame that it's gone out of style. That being said, I have an MOD cantle that I need to make a bag for...

I have done one in a tipped (but otherwise natural) pigskin. I keep meaning to make myself a bag in the same leather, but just can't find the time.



ith:

[Downunder Kilt]

Gents. I have been looking for some time for a good quality sporran belt in natural or buff coloured leather. If you do find any retailer with such, please let it be known.

[Peter Crowe]

I have done one in a tipped (but otherwise natural) pigskin. I keep meaning to make myself a bag in the same leather, but just can't find the time.



ith:

Artificer, that is the day wear sporran I'd love to have if I could afford it

[longhuntr74]

One of the vendors at the Pleasanton Games this past year was wearing (IIRC) a pigskin sporran and matching natural tan waistbelt and sporran strap. I commented on them to let him know I thought they were great. He had made them himself, of course!

[ThistleDown]

I have the remnants of a tan waist belt that was my grandfather's (or quite likely his father's, I've no idea, but in the last half of the 19C). It's about 2.5 inches in width and very plain. It's fragile and not repairable but just another family treasure gone a bit rusty in some places and black where the buckle once was. In fact, it's quite possible it looked a bit like this even when my ancestor wore it

My guess on the reasons for the demise of the styles shown -- a fairly educated one, I suppose -- is that dirk belts and sword belts went out in Scotland in the 18C, except as worn by the military and, of course, as worn for portraiture of which these are fine examples. By the turn to the 20C everyone wore black in the evening and that custom has just stayed around for more than a hundred years.

[Tobus]

My guess on the reasons for the demise of the styles shown -- a fairly educated one, I suppose -- is that dirk belts and sword belts went out in Scotland in the 18C, except as worn by the military and, of course, as worn for portraiture of which these are fine examples. By the turn to the 20C everyone wore black in the evening and that custom has just stayed around for more than a hundred years.

Those were my thoughts exactly. Dirk belts and baldrics ceased to be worn by civilians and became relegated to military wear. And so it stands to reason that over the last two centuries the military style (i.e. black or white) became the only way people wore them any more.

Were they to be widely worn by civilians again, I have no doubt that we'd see a resurgence of other colours and styles, just like every other bit of civilian accessories.