Wanted: Dress sporran

**johngoff** · 10th May 16, 11:19 PM

Unfortunately my seal skin sporran was eaten by moths so hoping to replace it.

Thanks, John.
johngoff@gmail.com

**Steve Ashton** · 10th May 16, 11:26 PM

I'm real sorry to tell you this John but it is illegal to import into or sell items made from seal in the US. It is also illegal now in the UK and the EU.
The only Western country I know of that is still able to make a seal skin sporran is Canada. Of course you can't import those items across the border.

In 2009 the Celtic Craft Center in Palm Springs, CA was raided by agents looking for seal skin sporrans. (of course the newspaper article about the raid said that the agents suspected that the store had seal skin kilts)

**cck** · 11th May 16, 05:34 AM

Is there a way to distinguish seal from other skins that may have a similar appearance?

**Father Bill** · 11th May 16, 07:16 AM

Originally Posted by cck

Is there a way to distinguish seal from other skins that may have a similar appearance?

I'm told that some folks use moo-cow and that it has a similar appearance although not a similar touch. I've never seen one, so I couldn't comment on the veracity of that opinion. On the other hand, maybe I have seen one and didn't spot the difference.

**Tarheel** · 11th May 16, 11:00 AM

I've been negotiating with a woman for an antique mink (but moth riddled) stole. She also has a sable stole that could pass for seal. Both are in a "thrift" store, but priced as if they were in a high end boutique. I hope to make my next sporran from either I swing the deal. This may be the path you have to take.

**cck** · 11th May 16, 12:38 PM

So far I've seen "moo-cow" and "sable" (perhaps opposite ends of the spectrum) as imitations for seal.

**Father Bill** · 11th May 16, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by cck

So far I've seen "moo-cow" and "sable" (perhaps opposite ends of the spectrum) as imitations for seal.

Compromise: "moo-sable"!

**Todd Bradshaw** · 11th May 16, 02:50 PM

It obviously depends somewhat on the particular cow and/or seal, but some cowhide sporrans at least look pretty close, though they aren't as soft to touch. Seal on the left (quoted at around 140 GBP), cow on the right at about $45.

**Cygnus** · 11th May 16, 03:36 PM

My cow-skin dress sporran from Ian Grant of Edinburgh certainly looks the part from more than a few feet away (and if somebody were to get closer to my sporran than that, I'd start to wonder a bit). As others have said, it's not as soft/smooth as the feel of seal skin, but it certainly does the job in a pinch.