Dicing on bonnets

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

To quote Sir Thomas Innes of Learney, sometime Lord Lyon, writing in 1938 (The Tartans of the Clans and Families of Scotland):

" The term chevtaine is definitely employed in early heraldic literature, and 'A cheivetayn's hedd chappelled embattled Or' appears in an heraldic badge in 1562. This "chieftain's embattled cap," inscribed with its owner's title like a sailor's cap, is obviously the origin of the later stiff and unnatural-looking Mural Crown, which (tinctured Or) has become more or less confined to persons with high military authority..."

Sir Thomas then goes on to say:

"It seems not unlikely that this medieval chieftain's bonnet survives not merely in the Mural Crown of heraldry, but in the diced borders of military Highland bonnets. This border in its more primitive form was a broad surround of very large checks, a noticeable feature of the bonnet in which the Duchess of Gordon went recruiting."

I don't think it is too big a leap of logic to suggest that the diced border was originally intended to denote those persons with the authority to call out the men of the clan for military service, and that with the passage of time came it came to be a mark, although not universal in its application, of those serving in the military.

[pbutts]

If a Kilmarnock and a Balmoral are different, what is the difference?

Google's fine, and you can use it to search specific sites like this, but the XMTS search does just fine -- here's a useful thread re: kilmarnock bonnets:

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...landers-77861/

[creagdhubh]

To quote Sir Thomas Innes of Learney, sometime Lord Lyon, writing in 1938 (The Tartans of the Clans and Families of Scotland):

" The term chevtaine is definitely employed in early heraldic literature, and 'A cheivetayn's hedd chappelled embattled Or' appears in an heraldic badge in 1562. This "chieftain's embattled cap," inscribed with its owner's title like a sailor's cap, is obviously the origin of the later stiff and unnatural-looking Mural Crown, which (tinctured Or) has become more or less confined to persons with high military authority..."

Sir Thomas then goes on to say:

"It seems not unlikely that this medieval chieftain's bonnet survives not merely in the Mural Crown of heraldry, but in the diced borders of military Highland bonnets. This border in its more primitive form was a broad surround of vary large checks, a noticeable feature of the bonnet in which the Duchess of Gordon went recruiting."

I don't think it is too big a leap of logic to suggest that the diced border was originally intended to denote those persons with the authority to call out the men of the clan for military service, and that with the passage of time came it came to be a mark, although not universal in its application, of those serving in the military.

Very, very interesting, Scott. Thanks for sharing.

[OC Richard]

It's an interesting theory, or "leap of logic" as you put it, but the evidence seems to show that when dicing began appearing on bonnets it did so equally amongst military and civilian, laird and commoner, all alike.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

It's an interesting theory, or "leap of logic" as you put it, but the evidence seems to show that when dicing began appearing on bonnets it did so equally amongst military and civilian, laird and commoner, all alike.

Well, if you are referring to the 18th century, that's probably when the transformation was in full swing, and by the mid-19th century I would suspect that the original intent of the diced border had faded from memory. I think Innes of Learney is on pretty solid ground with his theory of the evolution of the diced border deriving from a much earlier chieftain's bonnet, based as it is on the heraldic evidence.

[MacCathail]

The rule in general is, indeed, that army pipers don't wear the dicing.

But there is at least one notable exception:
http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalHous...eensPiper.aspx

Cheers,

-John-

[A Robertson]

Just an idea, a bit off topic. I have thought about commisioning a Glengarry with a band of my clan tartan instead of the usual dicing. - THAT would be cool!