Feathers?

**gilmore** · 27th June 07, 01:43 PM

Originally Posted by beloitpiper

Yeah, I wear a hackle with my pipe band. I'm talking about those huge pheasant (or whatever) feathers. Thanks for the link!

By far and away these days when anyone in Scotland is wearing feathers in his hat it is some one in the Tartan Army, in glorious democratic disregard for cheifs, cheiftans and armigers.

See the pix here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/tartanarmy/

and here http://www.t-army.com/

**auld argonian** · 27th June 07, 03:17 PM

I'll toss in this resource that I found a while back:

http://www.matoska.com/cgibin/gencat...L&S1S2=52%2C23

...you have to use the menu on the left side of the page to switch between the various types of feathers but the link should hook you up to the faux eagle feather page...they also carry the pheasant and I think that that long trailing pheasant feather might look good shooting off on a rakish angle from a bonnet...

Best

AA

**sirdaniel1975** · 27th June 07, 03:37 PM

Here are links to pictures illustrating clan chiefs with eagle feathers:

clan Ramsay http://www.clanramsay.org/gmhg2003/c...ef01_small.jpg

MacMillian
http://www.electricscotland.com/webc...ife%20Jane.jpg

clan Sinclair (St. Claire)
http://www.clansinclairusa.org/images/chief.jpg

Cluny MacPherosn
[URL="http://www.sonasmor.net/cluny.jpg"]http://www.sonasmor.net/cluny.jpg[
/URL]
He's wearing a chief's crest badge...

**sirdaniel1975** · 27th June 07, 03:42 PM

It's not letting me edit the bad link above... so here it is:

http://www.sonasmor.net/cluny.jpg

Raptor · 27th June 07, 05:52 PM

They're traditionally golden eagle feathers, with one being worn by an armiger, two by a chieftain, & three by the clan chief.

**BEEDEE** · 27th June 07, 06:10 PM

A clan plant sprig is an option. I wonder if we could choose an appropriate one for X Marks the Scot to wear behind our XMTS kilt pins when worn as a hat badge?

Originally Posted by fluter

... hmmmm, yeah... barley?

Barley would be most appropriate since it is used both in beer and whisky.

Brian

**Don Patrick** · 27th June 07, 06:14 PM

I guess the Lamonts would use a sprig of crab apple. Not a bad idea.

**MacWage** · 27th June 07, 06:45 PM

As it was meantioned in the Harding thread, the eagle feathers (and ANY feathers that look like such) have VERY specific meanings and significance.

They're traditionally golden eagle feathers, with one being worn by an armiger, two by a chieftain, & three by the clan chief.

It would be "bad taste" to wear them if you are not the person RIGHTFULLY acknowledged to do so with the clan/heraldic regalia.
In Britain, it can even be a criminally punishable offense (under the "identity theft" idea).

In many cases, the ones who have the "rights" (legal recognition through Lord Lyon) to the feathers CHOOSE NOT to wear them, based on the situation at hand and what the person will be doing. To wear them marks that person with distinction as the representative of his clan and office, as well as of himself. WHATEVER he does wearing feathers reflects upon all of them. When he is "normally" dressed any embarassment is "personal" and reflective of the others in ONLY so much as he/she is recognized. One may also choose to forgo feathers to be incognito, as much as possible.

As for OTHER types of feathers, plumes, and the like. As long as they would NOT be mistaken for eagle feathers, go ahead. Remember, however, that for most modern "Scotiphiles" those feathers may be seen as gaudy, pretentious, and all sorts of other things.
Most Americans don't know the difference either way.

Personally, I would NOT wear anything "feathery" as it does not fit my personal tastes or styles. I also tend to not like gold (only my wedding band, some of my buckles, and the like). Usually my leathers are black and my metals are silver (which is personal tastes).

Now, the Tartan Army is not EXACTLY a group to look to regarding dictates on "proper" kilt or Scottish dress, mores, or fashion. Part of the fun of the Tartan Army is to look as gaudy and stereotypical as POSSIBLE.

**auld argonian** · 27th June 07, 06:51 PM

Stuck a feather in his hat and called it macaroni...

...never mind...I was just rambling...

But I think that the pheasant tail feathers would add a bit of dash to a bonnet...not the foot and a half long ones, of course...let's keep it reasonable.

Best

AA

**Don Patrick** · 27th June 07, 07:30 PM

Originally Posted by auld argonian

Stuck a feather in his hat and called it macaroni...

...never mind...I was just rambling...

But I think that the pheasant tail feathers would add a bit of dash to a bonnet...not the foot and a half long ones, of course...let's keep it reasonable.

Best

AA

Conjures up a Tyrolean Hat in my mind. I've worn my share hiking in the Leiter alps on the Austrian border.