A cap-badge carved from bone?

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

I'm not a fan of showing too much metal if I'm wearing daywear, but I've been wanting a Balmoral in green lovat or fawn, and would like to sport a McLaren clan cap-badge.

I've just asked a bone-carver for a quote to have one made from 'bovine ivory'. It'd be a slightly stylised and simplified version of the usual crest, but I've a feeling it could look good.

Do you think it's a good idea?

I think it is an excellent idea as long as it looks like a clansman's badge. In other words, you have to make sure that the "Lions head erased, crowned with an antique crown, between two branches of laurel issuing from the wreath on either side of the head" isn't altered, and the crest is encircled "within a stap and buckle". The execution of these design elements is up to the artisan, however he is not a liberty to change any of the elements.

Are there any implications to consider?

There are three things to consider: (1) With the passage of time cow bones can become "furry"; (2) Bone is brittle, and a clan crest can take a lot of hard knocks... breakage may be an issue. (3) You may not paint the crest. Wearing the badge in colour is the prerogative of the chief. Clansmen display his crest as a badge, usually in metal, but always in monochrome.

Has anyone thought of this before?

Probably, but I doubt you'll run into anything similar at your local Scottish games!

[kiltedsawyer]

Just make sure that the crest badge conforms to the blazon (description) of the Chief's crest, and that the buckle, strap, and motto are not omitted, as the crest belongs to Donald MacLaren of MacLaren and Achleskine and is his personal property.

Lord Lyon's Secret Police walking the beat!

[MacLowlife]

You might find some kind of "artificial bone" or "artificial ivory" quite possibly in your artisan's workshop already. That will help with the long range aspects and maybe even with the consistency of the piece. I don't know for sure about color, but I expect there is a Corian product that would work. A tiny advantage is the ability to meld and mold it, and to melt findings into the back.

Another possibility would be tagua nut, though I am not sure you can find one large enough.

As for the chief's prerogative and property, it would be a shame to have all of that work done and then to have to give it to him as tribute, so you might as well conform to etiquette.

If by some chance you encounter a craftsman willing to create a mold and cast them out of some polymer that LOOKS like ivory, you might offer one to the chief for his own use. And then sell a lot of them.

[Bugbear]

Is anyone thinking sporran cantle yet?

[MacLowlife]

On second thought, there is a relatively easy way to get a non-metal clan badge, with all of the detail you want. Start with a clear drawing of the badge, take it to a place that does laser-computer engraving. Most larger trophy shops do, but there are also heraldic jewelers who do sometimes, too. Anyway, give them the clear line drawing and have them cut it into either an ivory-composite material or a piece of wood- probably walnut would work best. Then, do as much jiggery-pokery to it as you dare ( cutting out bits?) and affix a pin back. It still might cost more than a tin badge, but you can get whatever you want and it ought to be reproducible.

[MacLowlife]

MacBug, you shall NOT derail this thread. But you do remind me of some ancient carved handbag handles my great aunt had, made from some kind of bone or ivory. There was a lot of piercing-work, probably done with a file by a 6 year old. The same sort of work could be done on an arc to make a cantle, especially if the material were polymer. How that would be attached to the sporran is up to you. AND, if one chose to work out some kind of low relief/ scrimshaw design, the laser engraving technique might work for a cantle, too.

[davidlpope]

Lord Lyon's Secret Police walking the beat!

Let's please keep this discourse civil and avoid such remarks. When comparisons to totalitarian regimes enter a discussion, discourse seems to go quickly downhill.

Cordially,

David

[Bugbear]

MacBug, you shall NOT derail this thread. But you do remind me of some ancient carved handbag handles my great aunt had, made from some kind of bone or ivory. There was a lot of piercing-work, probably done with a file by a 6 year old. The same sort of work could be done on an arc to make a cantle, especially if the material were polymer. How that would be attached to the sporran is up to you. AND, if one chose to work out some kind of low relief/ scrimshaw design, the laser engraving technique might work for a cantle, too.

Actually, the image in my mind was of those skulls with calligraphy on the foreheads. I can't remember where that was, I saw it on TV long, long ago, and I think it was somewhere in Europe.

All Right, I'll try to be quiet, MacLowlife...

[MacLowlife]

edward gorey ( skulls with calligraphy) ? oops, derailing again. My turn to be quiet.

[JolyStNicholas]

Sounds interesting indeed. Will be waiting on the outcome!