Estate sale sporran

[ShaunMaxwell]

As the Salado Clan Gathering was winding down, I happened to drop by the Clan Donnachaidh tent to say hello and noticed they had a table spread with various hose and sporrans. These were the remnants of an "estate sale" of various bits of Highland kit that had been going on during the course of the weekend. (I learned that "Torf the Kiltmaker" had recently passed. He was a beloved character and eccentric who well known on the Texas Scottish scene). By the time I arrived, the pickings were slim, and most of the remaining items were in pretty rough shape.

I did, however, notice a dress sporran that was in need of some minor repair and some TLC. I noticed what appeared to be hallmarks on the cantle, so offered them what I had in my pocket for it ($31!) and they gladly accepted.

Here's the sporran:



And a couple of closeups of the details. I'm guessing it's meant to be some type of dragon or serpent in the knot work:





I know nothing about British hallmarks, but a quick search on the internet yielded the following:



So, if I'm reading the marks correctly, the cantle is sterling silver, from Edinburgh and was made in 1987 by TK Ebbutt Ltd.

I'm thinking that was $31 well spent, and am wondering if the cantle might be repurposed for a curly goat hair sporran.

I may just make the necessary repair on the the oh-so-brittle leather strap of the snap closure and try to clean up the silver a bit.

What do you think?

SM

[plaid preacher]

I hope you bought a lottery ticket on the way home! That was your lucky day. What a beautiful sporran and at an unbelievable price. I think you have interpreted the Hallmarks accurately. I think it would look great as a goat hair sporran.

Wear it well, and I'm sure you'll smile every time you put it on.

[Tarheel]

Great find Shaun. Yes to the goat hair bag. I'll offer the original cost of (knowing your answer in advance) $31.00 for the old thing now, as is.
Please post photos of the finished product to satisfy my envy. Cheers Bobby

[Tobus]

Dude, I'll pay you twice what you spent for it! Deal?

[bdkilted]

Curse my sore shoulder from keeping me from making the rounds as I usually do. And why didn't Jerry tell me they were having a sale, he's of that clan. You had great luck Shaun. Post another one when you get it cleaned up.

[OC Richard]

That's fantastic!

Sporrans with Sterling Silver cantles come up very rarely.

And I've never seen that pattern of cantle before!

It looks right out of the 1920s.

[ShaunMaxwell]

Had a jeweler remove the cantle from the sporran today.



I used the aluminum foil, boiling water and baking soda method to do the bulk of the work, then used my wife's silver polishing cloth on the remaining spots.

It cleaned up pretty nicely!

Now to have a new sporran made...

Stay tuned.

SM

[Richrail]

Looks beautiful.

[MacRobert's Reply]

Great cantle by a outstanding company and at a bargain price!

[McMurdo]

That turned out beautifully.