Earl of Airlie's kilt-pin

[Troglodyte]

What do you make of this..?

This is a well-known portrait of the old Earl of Airlie, dating from the mid-years of last century, and a splendid figure he is, too.

There is nothing really remarkable in his appearance, other than the very relaxed and casual way the earl sports kilt and matching plaid. But hold on a minute.

This was my view until just recently, when the portrait came to my attention once again, and I noticed his kilt-pin. Apart from the curiously high position, it is an unusual half-knot style - the likes of which I have only ever seen two, and I have them both, in brass and sterling silver respectively. Some of you will remember seeing the pictures.

The silver one is assayed for 1932, which fits in with the portrait - so are they one and the same, or just a coincidence?

The 'Bonnie Hoose o' Arlie' is only a few minutes' drive down the road from my home, but that is no clue at all as I bought the pin from a dealer who bought it in London - which is where the earl lived and worked.

Is it possible that some of the earl's little possessions got sold off after his death, and that this pin was his and is now on my kilt? Who can say, but it's a fun idea.

Whatever, the style is unusual and requires high skills to taper the metal rod, knot it, twist and bend it to form the finished pin. A nice thing.

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[Jock Scot]

I suppose there is a good chance that you will never know who owned the kilt pins in the past, but, those pins are lovely and very unusual. I am no metal worker, but it is clear that considerable skill was needed to make your pins. I am quite sure that you will enjoy them both over time.

Being a tad mischievous here, I note with a certain amount of interest the footwear that the Earl was wearing in the picture!

[Troglodyte]

Being a tad mischievous here, I note with a certain amount of interest the footwear that the Earl was wearing in the picture!

The impression I have of the old Earl is that he was a man of 'individual' character. Everything about this image suggests he was happy to test the limits of convention - all the way from his tatooed forearms to his toes.

Cut a slice through any time in Scotland's troubled past, and an Earl of Airlie is not far from the thick of it. So challenging social convention goes with the title, I guess.