Piper's sporran

[longhuntr74]

No offense to John, but I disagree that horsehair = military. As a recent thread about a sporran for a wedding spurred discussion on the same issue...if you look at photos, lithographs, and drawings of kilted individuals from the late 1700s thru the early 1900s, you will see that the preponderance of kilted men wore hair sporrans of either horsehair or goathair. I know I bragged about it on another thread, but my beloved just purchased me a goathair sporran from NorCalPiper (Skye Highland Outfitters). The sporran is not a copy of a military sporran, but still has a decorative cantle and goathair gives a very vintage look. They also produce horsehair sporrans with leather flaps and in several non-military configurations that I would recommend if you like hair sporrans. His prices and quality are great (based on my online shopping and reviews I've read) and he was tremendously helpful to my wife when she was making the purchase (her knowing little to nothing about kilts, he was very eager to answer her questions and provide advice). Highly recommend that you check out Skye!

[EagleJCS]

No offense to John, but I disagree that horsehair = military. As a recent thread about a sporran for a wedding spurred discussion on the same issue...if you look at photos, lithographs, and drawings of kilted individuals from the late 1700s thru the early 1900s, you will see that the preponderance of kilted men wore hair sporrans of either horsehair or goathair.

No offense taken. I was actually trying to comment more on the (mis-?)use of the term "piper's sporran" in describing the horsehair sporran. The horsehair sporran with or without tassles - especially the kilt-length sporrans - is considered a military-style sporran, at least in the pipe band circles I'm familiar with (Midwest US), and is worn with what is often described as "#1 dress", which is a British military descriptor of the uniform those sporrans are most often worn with. Most civilian (non-military, non-public-service) pipe bands in this area don't wear them because of that impression.

I would venture to guess that many of the men pictured in the various media were either active or retired military, or imitating the look, as has been described as the custom in the late 1800's through the turn of the 20th century. Granted, the goathair sporran is civilian, but it looks vastly different from the horsehair sporran.

Before we derail this thread further, let's agree to disagree on this one, OK?

[OC Richard]

I was actually trying to comment more on the (mis-?)use of the term "piper's sporran" in describing the horsehair sporran.

The horsehair sporran... is considered a military-style sporran...

Granted, the goathair sporran is civilian, but it looks vastly different from the horsehair sporran.

On the first point above, I certainly agree! It's absurd to call a horsehair sporran a "piper's sporran" when all ranks of the Highland regiments wear them.

About the horsehair sporran being considered a military style, that's what I used to think back when I first got involved in Highland dress in the 1970's.
Highland dress at that time was neatly sorted into civilian day dress, civiliarn evening dress, and military full dress, each with its proprietary jacket, sporran, and footwear.

The eye-opener came when I aquired a copy of The Highlanders of Scotland, a series of extremely detailed portraits of men in Highland dress painted in the 1860's. At that time, it was clear, long hair sporrans were universally worn with all modes of Highland dress: with informal tweed kilt jackets, with the more formal "Celtic" jackets, and with jackets somewhat analagous to our our modern evening dress jackets. A book I have which was probably published around 1914 shows that this was still the case at that time. So, the neat division of sporrans into evening, day, and military seems not to have happened until the 1920's or so.

About horsehair sporrans and goathair sporrans looking different, actually it's often difficult to tell one from the other in old photographs.

[Snowbear]

I admit I were wrong about calling it a piper sporran. I guess I've just been polluted by all the kilt stores and meida. It's always good to extend my own knowledge!

[Chas]

Anybody (piper or otherwise) could do well to check out this seller on eBay.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ORIGINAL-HORSE...item2ea710f965

This is a new item and for the price, is well within the reach of most of us.



The Buy-It-Now price is £59.99 with a £9.00 P&P.

Yes they do come from Sialkot in Pakistan, but I have dealt with them many times and have never been disapointed.

Regards

Chas