First use of kilt pins

[OC Richard]

In The Highlanders Of Scotland, which includes 56 portraits of kilted men painted in the 1860s, it can be seen that at that time kilt pins were uncommon, and when they were worn they didn't look like the sorts of kilt pins which have come down to us from the early 20th century (the familiar swords, dirks, axes, etc).

Of the 56, 34 portraits show the area where a kilt pin would be.

27 of the 34 have the kilt plain there, without kilt pin or ribbons.

Only 6 have kilt pins. 4 of the 6 are circular, either plain or bearing a clan crest.

One is a plain open oval, one is a complex design.

One kilt has bows/rosettes/ribbons.

I can't recall seeing any kilt pins in 18th century portraits.

So were I doing a historical costume I wouldn't use a kilt pin.