Full Mask Sporrans, Good for What Ails You?

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Some amount of taxidermy is generally done on full mask sporrans. I've seen two extremes. One is no taxidermy at all where the animal mask simply lies flat, limply on the front of the sporran. These have never looked right to me as part of a contemporary kilt outfit -- it looks too "rough".

On the other extreme, there is a vendor I see a lot at the Highland Games here in the southeast that has very taxidermied sporrans where the sporran mask may protrude out a good 8" or more from the wearer. Some people just love those sporrans, but I think they are a bit over the top.

A good mask sporran, in my opinion, should have enough taxidermy to give the mask a bit of shape and deminsion, but it should still lie rather flat.

We carry L&M's full line of mask sporrans, my personal favorite of which is the badger.



See:
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/sporran_mask.html

You mention the suitability of these sporrans for all occasions. I don't know if I would go so far as to say they are good for "ultra-casual" wear (I'm picturing someone wearing one with their instakilt and flip flops at the pool!), but they are certainly appropriate for both daywear and eveningwear.

[Fit2BKilted]

Some amount of taxidermy is generally done on full mask sporrans. I've seen two extremes. One is no taxidermy at all where the animal mask simply lies flat, limply on the front of the sporran. These have never looked right to me as part of a contemporary kilt outfit -- it looks too "rough".

On the other extreme, there is a vendor I see a lot at the Highland Games here in the southeast that has very taxidermied sporrans where the sporran mask may protrude out a good 8" or more from the wearer. Some people just love those sporrans, but I think they are a bit over the top.

A good mask sporran, in my opinion, should have enough taxidermy to give the mask a bit of shape and dimension, but it should still lie rather flat.

We carry L&M's full line of mask sporrans, my personal favorite of which is the badger.



See:
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/sporran_mask.html

<drool> I'm extremely fond of the Badger & Skunk sporrans, as well as the Beaver (if only for nationalistic association)... I think I would like my eventual full-mask sporran to have appropriately selected glass eyes at least; but, I also agree that protrusion more than a couple inches would be too much! (It just makes me think of the Black Adder "cod-piece" bit).

Now, I'm wondering what a Woodchuck/Ground-hog/Gopher mask-sporran would be like... I'm sure it would be popular on the Golf Course! ;-)

[ I will also proudly wear sealskin, even if their heads are too large for mask-sporrans. ]

[Wompet]

Now, I'm wondering what a Woodchuck/Ground-hog/Gopher mask-sporran would be like... I'm sure it would be popular on the Golf Course! ;-)

Well, it would look like this:

They're the cat's meow!

Yes, yes it is.

You'll notice that the head does lie flat; the apparent "bulkiness" of the sporran is the result of the wide gusset.

Ted, in response to your original post: I have worn this sporran formally and semi-formally, and I could see myself wearing it casually with a polo or similar shirt.
In fact, there used to be some pictures of Turpin (who made this one for me) wearing "Buddy the Badger" at either Grandfather Mountain or Stone Mountain with a more casual outfit.