Sealskin pipe bags??

[HarborSpringsPiper]

I posted this question on bobdunsire.com and thought I would post it here as well.

I just started re-reading Roderick Cannon's "The Highland Bagpipe And Its Music", 1995. In describing the instrument he makes mention of the use of sealskin as one of the materials for pipe bags, something I didn't recall seeing when I previously read the book.

I find that interesting as I don't ever recall hearing sealskin being a material used for pipe bags, let alone commonly used. Could anyone comment on this?

I'm sure any hide could be used but the fact he listed it first, with sheepskin next would seem to indicate some degree of prevalence, at least at some point. I guess I started playing shortly after the Marine Mammal Act of 1972 would have effectively killed this option in the US, so maybe that's why I am unfamiliar with its use. Was it a popular option in the UK or elsewhere at some point? If so, were its properties good?

I recognize this is a totally academic question but now my curiosity is piqued. My understanding was that Cannon is an authoritative source, so I'm assuming this has some good basis.

[george7]

If sealskin was ever used for pipe bags, it wasn't a predominant material.

[Ruanaidh]

This is the first I've heard of it.

[beloitpiper]

First I've heard of it, but I wonder why anybody would use anything beside gor-tex nowadays.

[Ancienne Alliance]

It would look great to cover the bag with sealskin though .

Would give the bag a good grip. Perhaps a bit too warm for summer .


Best,

Robert

[Jack Daw]

I prefer to hunt, kill and skin the wild Gore-Tex for my bag.

[HarborSpringsPiper]

It would look great to cover the bag with sealskin though .

Would give the bag a good grip. Perhaps a bit too warm for summer .


Best,

Robert

I've seen various Central and Eastern European pipes where the style is/was to leave the hair on the hide bag, with goatskin for instance. I think your correct though, seems like it would be too warm against your body.

On that other site someone responded that he had an 1891 set of Hendersons with the original sealskin bag, that was his grandfather's set and still supple. If true, that's one heck of a testimonial!

Beloitpiper, personally I'm with you at this point regarding synthetic bags. I actually liked sheepskin the best when I was truly playing all of the time, though the life-span is kind of limited. However, with the gaps I sometimes have between playing or then playing frequently, the foregiving nature of Gore-Tex is certainly working for me.

[Am Bàrd]

It wouldn't surprise me if it was done in antiquity. Also remember that there are a number of tales from the Highlands about Seals and Selkies. Seals did appear play a large roll in coastal towns and settlements of the Highlands - why not make use of another part of them, if you've already got uses for their other parts.

[BagpiperDon]

I've never heard of this, but it makes enough sense...

• No reason why it wouldn't work potentially -- and I would venture that like cattle/sheep/etc the material would be de-furred & however processed, so I'd argue the 'too warm' thing would be unlikely.
• So far as I know, seal was hunted and used by Scots, so why wouldn't seal potentially get used for pipes as well -- people tend to use whats at hand.

I don't know that I'd use seal for a pipe bag, but a seal fur kilt might be nice ... oops, inside out