I like to take the long view on these things.
I don't know when, early 19th century?? the various Highland regiments introduced sginean for Officers and Pipers.
It would be interesting to know when, because from the 18th century up until around the Crimean War some regiments dressed their pipers in what amounted to civilian livery, upon which post-Crimean Highland military dress was based.
If Pipers wearing sginean predated Officers it would be yet another example of that process.
In any case sginean weren't all that popular with Victorian civilians. Their popularity seems to have taken off around 1900.
The oldest catalogue I have is 1909 Leckie Graham's Glasgow. Here's their full page of sginean:
The old sginean were nearly always slender, very lightweight, and smooth on the back. Note that the Leckie Graham's catalogue emphasises their suitability for dancing, for that's when sginean would normally be worn, with Evening Dress for Balls etc.
So many modern sginean are bulky and heavy, quite unsuited for comfortable wearing while dancing.
Last edited by OC Richard; 22nd October 24 at 06:57 AM.
Proud Mountaineer from the Highlands of West Virginia; son of the Revolution and Civil War; first Europeans on the Guyandotte
