"New" Clan MacTavish Dress Tartan

[figheadair]

The idea of a predominantly white tartan probably stems from surviving examples of Highland ladies' dress, most notably the arisaid, which was generally a length of woven fabric featuring a white background with a tartan pattern, as seen in the one woven by Christina in 1726:

See my comments in #12. This 1726 blanket was intended for domestic use and not to wear as an Erraisaid.

[Tam Piperson]

See my comments in #12. This 1726 blanket was intended for domestic use and not to wear as an Erraisaid.

I see. It must have been this photo from a Scottish Tartans Museum display that gave me the impression that it was:

[figheadair]

I see. It must have been this photo from a Scottish Tartans Museum display that gave me the impression that it was:

Using something in a particular way to demonstrate a concept does not necessarily mean that that was the original use of that piece. Similarly, putting a kilt on a museum manikin the wrong way around doesn't mean that's how kilts were worn then.



In the case of the CY blanket there is no evidence that it was ever worn, nor is its weight or structure consistent with its use as clothing.