Let's talk full dress sporrans

**ASinclair** · 3rd December 13, 09:23 PM

Nathan,

I think the rabbit and fox tail with the thistle cantle, most definitely!

**Lime** · 4th December 13, 02:21 AM

Originally Posted by Domehead

Red Fox fur & dark brown leather sporran; dark brown leather cone liners; Thistle cantle and matching cones
Lamont Sporrans; Braemar, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
Mr. Lamont told me what stone was in the Milk Thistle on the cantle, but I'm remiss

Very nice!

**Lime** · 4th December 13, 03:02 AM

I like to keep black tie relatively simple and believe that excellent craftsmanship is the way to achieve this look successfully (although whether I have ever achieved this in my dress myself is quite another matter!).

I've heard that minimalism is difficult and expensive to achieve and while my sporran isn't "minimalist" per se I did want it to have a simplicity and a "cleanness" to the look while still being "classic" and showing off the craftsmanship in an understated way without too many "bobbins" (which I do actually like in many cases).

I asked Kate Macpherson make me this from the lower back part of the fox skin which is slightly coarser and has the silver fleck in it. I think it works rather well:

The cantle is from Katherine at clanart. I know that others may prefer silver or would even suggest silver plate. My personal preference would be not to use silver plate (I fancy there is an "honesty" (not quite the right word) in letting materials stand on their own particular merits and in some respects I rather like pewter).

Quite honestly I would not get the wear to justify cost of having a silver cantle made to the same degree of craftsmanship as I only get to about two or three black tie events in a year. Having said that people like Ian Grant of Edinburgh do some excellent work and it is regrettable that the art of engraving is generally in decline and it would be nice to support those artists too... maybe some day; but until then it is nice to have some dreams and I am, personally, happy with what I have: I would prefer not to compromise to "get the look" with something more flash.

EDIT:

p.s. before someone points it out I know that the clanart cantle is cast not engraved; I was referring to Ian Grant's particular art in talking about engraving.

**creagdhubh** · 4th December 13, 05:56 AM

Originally Posted by Lime

I like to keep black tie relatively simple and believe that excellent craftsmanship is the way to achieve this look successfully (although whether I have ever achieved this in my dress myself is quite another matter!).

I've heard that minimalism is difficult and expensive to achieve and while my sporran isn't "minimalist" per se I did want it to have a simplicity and a "cleanness" to the look while still being "classic" and showing off the craftsmanship in an understated way without too many "bobbins" (which I do actually like in many cases).

I asked Kate Macpherson make me this from the lower back part of the fox skin which is slightly coarser and has the silver fleck in it. I think it works rather well:

The cantle is from Katherine at clanart. I know that others may prefer silver or would even suggest silver plate. My personal preference would be not to use silver plate (I fancy there is an "honesty" (not quite the right word) in letting materials stand on their own particular merits and in some respects I rather like pewter).

Quite honestly I would not get the wear to justify cost of having a silver cantle made to the same degree of craftsmanship as I only get to about two or three black tie events in a year. Having said that people like Ian Grant of Edinburgh do some excellent work and it is regrettable that the art of engraving is generally in decline and it would be nice to support those artists too... maybe some day; but until then it is nice to have some dreams and I am, personally, happy with what I have: I would prefer not to compromise to "get the look" with something more flash.

EDIT:

p.s. before someone points it out I know that the clanart cantle is cast not engraved; I was referring to Ian Grant's particular art in talking about engraving.

Well done, Lime! What a beautiful sporran! (I rather like the tartan in the background as well!)

**creagdhubh** · 4th December 13, 06:01 AM

Originally Posted by Nathan

These examples are very smart looking indeed. I suppose I could always wear my full mask fox (pictured above) but I just prefer it with day wear as the taxidermy lacks a certain elegance. Also, I have the front paws and have experimented with affixing them, but on that particular sporran, I feel like they detract rather than add to the look. That said, I've seen a lifelike six tassel full mask badger with ornate silver tassel bells (possibly A&SH Officer's sporran?) which would be over the top with tweed.

I agree. Here's a variant of that design made by Kate Macpherson. It's a badger (European species) with 6 horse hair tassels, plain silver cones and a plain silver cantle. I think this style of full mask sporran is absolutely gorgeous for black tie affairs where Highland dress is worn. Of course, since Kate Macpherson creates her sporrans from scratch, you could easily supply her with your own cantle and cones. Apologies for the small image.

oddbadgertassle.jpg

**creagdhubh** · 4th December 13, 06:08 AM

Here's an another full dress sporran of mine that I also sold off several years ago. It was made by L&M Highland Outfitters of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The body is white rabbit with silver, Celtic laced cantle, single ferrule and three ball/chain, rabbit fur tassels. I initially purchased the sporran, not only for L&M's reputation for producing high-quality and expertly crafted sporrans, but also for it's timeless, simplistic look. However, I became bored with the sporran over the years and decided to sell it in favour of the bespoke, L&M horsehair sporran I mentioned above, which I also ending up selling! Will I ever make up my bloody mind?! Good grief!

I also own another L&M beauty, in which I still have in my possession, yet very seldom wear. It's made of grey sealskin with six ball/chain, sealskin tassels and a "Prince Charlie" style cantle.
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**Tobus** · 4th December 13, 06:10 AM

Originally Posted by Nathan

Such unique and interesting sporrans. From the perspective of having something unique, I might be better off sticking to my rabbit and fox tail combo although I like the sheen of the seal.

Attachment 15709

Attachment 15710

I wonder which one should be my go to formal sporran until such time as I can justify the expense of a one of a kind Artificer creation.

Personally, I like the seal sporran better. The cantle has better proportions to the body (I don't like huge overdone cantles), and sealskin is more traditional. The black rabbit fur sporran looks a little too modern IMHO.

**Lime** · 4th December 13, 06:17 AM

Originally Posted by creagdhubh

Well done, Lime! What a beautiful sporran! (I rather like the tartan in the background as well!)

Ha ha - something told me you might!

**CMcG** · 4th December 13, 06:20 AM

Originally Posted by Nathan

... From the perspective of having something unique, I might be better off sticking to my rabbit and fox tail combo although I like the sheen of the seal.

I wonder which one should be my go to formal sporran until such time as I can justify the expense of a one of a kind Artificer creation.

Knowing you, the rabbit and fox tail sporran would be your go-to because it is a bit more distinctive, but the more classic seal fur one will still make the occasional appearance just for the sake of variety. If you are interested in horse or goat hair, keep watching eBay and a used one will turn up eventually.

My two formal sporrans are a chrome cantle bovine and a vintage, silver plated cantle, horsehair that used to belong to my dad. I've shown the pics before, but I'll post them again just for good measure. I like having the options of both understated and ostentatious.

The formal cow (far right) is from the Scotland Kilt Co. and most likely made in the East.

I've been thinking about getting the bottom of the horsehair shaped to have a more gentle, rounded/tapered shape...

**creagdhubh** · 4th December 13, 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by CMcG

I've been thinking about getting the bottom of the horsehair shaped to have a more gentle, rounded/tapered shape...

I've always loved your horsehair sporran, Colin. And with its given provenance, I am sure it holds a special meaning for you (if I recall correctly, didn't your grandfather or father pass it down to you?). I too had thought about "rounding" the bottom edges of my horsehair sporran (back when I still owned it, of course), yet never got around to doing it. Perhaps I was hesitant to do so in fear of disastrous results!