Women, purses, Nicoll bros and the future of Scottish sporrans

[Twa_Corbies]

I have to admit that I'm not all that impressed by the more recent trends in sporrans. While we have dealt with ugly sporrans for quite some time (ever since the idea of "decorating" the face of a daywear leather sporran with a bit of hairy cow-hide to produce a "semi-dress" sporran that is asthetically unsuitable for all occassions), we are now faced with the issue of avant guard modern-art sporrans that look like a techno-punk fashion accessory, along with the rather obsolete looking Jacobite reinactment sporrans for those who want to carry their car keys and wallet around in what looks like something purchashed from a Rennassaince festival; and then there are the ebay sporrans made in Pakistan - the leather day-wear versions of which all seem to be available only in black (a bit formal a color for casual day dress), and the evening versions of which are all made from cheaply stitched together rabbit-fur with stamped tin cantles.

Sadly, it seems that no one is now producing the type of sporrans that have survived and been handed down for generations among the Highland lairds and gentlemen of the clans back home, of which the following are some excellent examples:







The following examples from The Mad Piper are the closest I could find to the traditional designs:

[JSFMACLJR]

It can be quite a challenge to find nice, top quaity sporrans nowadays. The Fergusson Britt sporrans are extremely nice ( although I do not as yet have one ). If you are willing to pay top dollar, you can have an evening sporran made. I had one made for me by Caledonian Crafts a couple of years ago:



I am delighted with this sporran!

At one time Cuillinn Craft ( http://cuillinn.com/highland.html ) made very beautiful day sporrans. I am not sure if they still do. Here are a couple of pictures of their sporrans:




As you have shown, House of Labhran from time to time has absolutely beautiful sporrans. It would be nice if a craftsman could make these again.

Kind regards,
Sandford MacLean

[Twa_Corbies]

Those are all very nice indeed. I am impressed with Fergusson Britt's sporrans - particularly when he makes them using metal cantles as I have seen pictured elsewhere here on another thread. I recently acquired a well-made but rather plain old-style brass cantle sporran that has an actual working catch closure, which I bought on ebay. Unfortunately it is so narrow I can't get my hand in it, and though well-made, I have considered asking Mr. Britt if he could fit it with a new (roomier) bag. I think it would make a nice traditional day wear sporran if given a few tassels.