Is X Marks the Scot a Clan?

[macwilkin]

A plant badge is worn BEHIND the cockade and metal badge.

In the pre-Culloden days, the badge was simply pinned to the bonnet itself, NO COCKADE or BADGE.

Historically, the emblem inside the belt was the CREST of the chief-> what appeared on the HEAD of the helmet (helm) within the coat of arms. It had LITTLE do with the plant badge, tartan, most other stuff. One of the most interesting things (to me) is the IMPORTANCE that crest has taken in the Scottish context, in contrast to MOST crests across Europe.

Actually, there were cockades worn before Culloden, John. An illustration from Reid's 18th Century Highlanders depicts a member of one of the Independent Highland Companies in the 1730's (the forerunners of the Black Watch) wearing a bonnet with a yellow cockade and a saltire or x-shaped cross made from red material. I also seem to remember a debate among ECW reenactors as to whether covenanting forces during the 1600s wore white saltires. Not sure of the documentation on that one, though.

Maybe I've misunderstood. I was preparing to order a plant badge for the Lamont Clan. The crab apple leaves are designed as part of the badge - or am I just guilty of commercial marketing?

Don -- it is my understanding that the Lamonts have an "alternate" badge that depicts their plant badge that members sometimes wear. I know of at least one person here that uses it as an avatar.

Regards,

Todd