Sporran antique and aged vs new mfg.

[Dunbar]

I am newly outfitting my first kilt. I am newly elected Chieftain of Clan Dunbar Society and need to have proper dress for games in the US and as a guest in Scotland at Manors of relatives and those who now own estates possessed at one time by the Earls of Dunbar March and Moray. Our Clan tours Scotland every 5 years and have had incredible reception at such estates.

I plan on at least 2 sporrans one dress and the other casual. Being on X-Marks the Scot for a couple of months I would of course love to commission them from Artificer but unfortunately that is not an option. I don't really want a full face to substitute for a day and dress sporran but might collect one later. All the newly manufactured offerings in the $50 to $350 USD range are not really to my taste. I would rather have something old and with imperfections but more unique and am soliciting opinions. For a cantle I would prefer sterling or German silver vs plate or pewter or chrome. I'm not too concerned with the cost except I don't want to spend over a thousand pounds from one of the high end outfits I see periodically. I kind of like this one on eBay despite the obvious flaws. I like the goat hair better than horse hair but am open to all options. I don't want anything outlandish but do like unique that might be a conversation starter.

Where can I look for find the variety and quality that Artificer creates but I can put in my shopping cart and hit buy?

Thanks,
David

[MacRob]

Here is my opinion and it is just that, an opinion. I would stay away from the horsehair military sporrans. I see people wearing them who are not in the military or not bandsmen but I do not think they look very good with civilian dress. They were popular civilian wear in Victorian times but much of what was worn in Victorian times was garish and inappropriate for wear these days.

The problem with wearing an antique sporran will be finding one which is in good shape and looks appropriate and, at the same time, is useful. I gave up trying to find one like that when first donning the kilt 34 years ago and made my own. Cantles, at least the actual working kind, are not something you can find easily these days and most which were available in the past came off military surplus sporrans. That supply seems to have dried up. I have looked at ebay and the "vintage" sporrans I saw looked more like "used" sporrans.

There are lots of nice sporrans out there for reasonable prices and you can find them in e-commerce without difficulty. There are custom makers who tend to mostly provide them in leather only. There is even one on this site, whose work I have seen and admired.

One thing that would help you make your decision would be to observe what everybody else is wearing, especially the Scots. My chief wears a very plain day wear sporran and a nice evening sporran and looks very good in both.

Good luck in your search.

[McMurdo]

The sporran you linked to is lovely, many will think it too much but it is lovely. If you've been wearing the kilt for a while then I'd say go ahead if thats what you want, there is a certain something that happens once you get used to wearing the kilt that can't be underestimated that something is confidence. I was just looking at Ministry of Tartan and found these sporrans that might be of interest.

http://www.ministryoftartan.com/inde...product_id=275

http://www.ministryoftartan.com/inde...product_id=273

http://www.ministryoftartan.com/inde...product_id=336

[Jock Scot]

An excellent post MacRob, with your first and last paragraph being particularly pertinent. One word of caution, sadly these days, using some Scots as examples of how to wear the kilt and what to wear with the kilt should not be relied upon. As much as it hurts to say so, it does have to be said. My advice is look at the Scots in the traditional section here.

[MacRob]

http://www.ministryoftartan.com/inde...product_id=275

http://www.ministryoftartan.com/inde...product_id=273

http://www.ministryoftartan.com/inde...product_id=336

I like all three of the sporrans pictured here and they are certainly reasonably priced.

[Jock Scot]

None of them would warrant a half penny of mine! Each to their own.

[McMurdo]

None of them would warrant a half penny of mine! Each to their own.

Jock
I know you have the one sporran from McRostie, but you also have the luxury of being able to borrow an evening wear sporran. My question therefore is if you were looking for your first evening sporran to purchase where would you go?

By the way here is the link to McRostie of Glasgow

http://www.mcrostie.co.uk/product-ca...wear/sporrans/

[Jock Scot]

Jock
I know you have the one sporran from McRostie, but you also have the luxury of being able to borrow an evening wear sporran. My question therefore is if you were looking for your first evening sporran to purchase where would you go?

By the way here is the link to McRostie of Glasgow

http://www.mcrostie.co.uk/product-ca...wear/sporrans/

It depends what you mean by "evening sporran". For minor and general black tie events? White tie events?

As you probably remember I have yet to find an "Evening Sporran" for minor black tie events that I like and the search has been ongoing for some thirty years. So for me, yes I would wholeheartedly recommend a black leather McRostie for day and general(black tie) evening dos. I think many tend to regard black tie as the epitome of formal events and generally they are not. So many choose to overdress for these events.

[JohnClanFarquharson]

Like many, I love the antique sporrans, but like someone said, they dont look appropriate these days. I have found a plain black leather sporran seems appropriate for almost every event. This has also been what I have seen in Scotland at many events, including my wedding reception party in Braemar. From my experience if it seems like too much, it probably is.

Regards

John

[McMurdo]

Okay Jock, what about a Black Tie sporran? I think that would be a good place to start as White Tie events are few and far between for most.