Is Stewart Hunting REALLY universal??

[Pleater]

Correction

All of the commonly woven Stewart tartans seem to be considered universal in the UK - there is a Stewart of Rothesay which is restricted.

I missed it as I had written it down as Stuart of Rothesay. It is, however, differenced - if the heraldic term is appropriate - having an extra stripe in the sett.

There is the possibility that the tartans are considered universal for British subjects because it is that of our Queen - which could be stretched to empire, and colonies and Commonwealth citizens maybe - outside those, then perhaps some connection to the family should be considered a requirement.

Anne the Pleater :ootd:

[opositive]

putting the "stewart" part aside for a moment, i thought that any "hunting" tartan could be worn by anyone.

[xman]

"Hunting" tartans are just different in name, not in quality. They are mostly named so because they are derived from a very bright tartan which substitutes earthier tones.

Not only is the hunting tartan in question widely worn because it is a Stewart, but also because it is a regimental tartan. Many wear it.

[MacLowlife]

I know of three tartans worn by regiments: Hunting Stewart, Black Watch, and Leslie. Are those the only ones? My guess is that the HS was considered a better choice than the Royal Stewart because it was either a little harder to spot or a little easier to keep clean. That is only a guess. Can anyone expound on any of this?



OUTSIDE OF THE UK, Open or Universal or Unrestricted seems to be mostly a question of etiquette, isn't it? I recognize that a restricted tartan can't be bought from the mill and its availability or use otherwise might be subject to some kind of copyright action, but beyond "It is not done" and of course the self appointed tartan rights enforcers, aren't we talking about one's own conscience for all non-restricted ones? I am all for etiquette, but oughtn't we recognize that a man named Paderewski or Schulz or Cacciotto ( or Stuart or Stewart or Steward, for that matter) is just as "entitled" to wear the MacLeod, say, as anyone else, if he lives anywhere outside the United Kingdom?

[opositive]

thank you for clarifying, xman.

i know the various stewart flavours are everywhere--i recently ordered a royal for a friend and a black for myself.

etiquette still matters to some extent to us unwashed heathens. as much as we like freedom in the former colonies, i thinks xmarks tries to be polite.

[James Hood]

Other regiments at one time or another with tarans were the Gordons, Argyle & Sutherland, Seaforth and Highland Light Infantry (which unit wore trews, not the kilt). If memory serves, musicians of the Black Watch wore the Royal Stewart after the 42nd became a Royal regiment.

[macwilkin]

Other regiments at one time or another with tarans were the Gordons, Argyle & Sutherland, Seaforth and Highland Light Infantry (which unit wore trews, not the kilt). If memory serves, musicians of the Black Watch wore the Royal Stewart after the 42nd became a Royal regiment.

The STA has a fairly comprehensive list of regimental tartans from the Commonwealth here:

http://www.tartansauthority.com/tart...mental-tartans

T.

[MacLowlife]

Thanks CajunScot. That is a whole lot of regiments.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I addressed this question in an article about the Stewart tartans I wrote in 2007.

http://www.albanach.org/stewart_tartans.html

In short, yes, the Stewart Hunting is and always has been considered a universal sett. The Royal Stewart tartan is certainly treated as a universal sett, so it may as well be, regardless of opinion to the contrary. And many of the other Stewart tartans are simply color variations of the Royal Stewart (Black Stewart, Dress Stewart, etc.)

Of course many Stewarts do wear these as clan tartans, because of the name.

For Stewarts who are looking for a general clan tartan which is neither considered a universal or Royal sett, there is the Old Stewart (sometimes called the Ancient Stewart), which I recommend.

[figheadair]

For Stewarts who are looking for a general clan tartan which is neither considered a universal or Royal sett, there is the Old Stewart (sometimes called the Ancient Stewart), which I recommend.

There are also a couple of much rarer Stewart related tartans and both far more pleasing that the range of 'general' Stewart setts. I'm thinking of the Stewart of Urrard and the so-called 'Clan' Stewart. Oh, and I'd add the Stewart of Ardshiel to that list too.