"Rules" for wearing family tartan

[OC Richard]

Take a look at how the Chief of the Murrays dressed circa 1822:
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Wow that's a great painting! Thanks for posting it.

If it does indeed date to 1822, it's by far the earliest depiction I've seen of a Glengarry.

The Queen's Own Highlanders have claimed that the Glengarry was invented by an officer of the Cameron Highlanders in the 1840s but I've long doubted that. It's probably more like that officer was the one who introduced this previously civilian style into the Army.

Here's the earliest Glengarry I'd seen, Angus MacKay:



That Murray chief also is wearing the low-cut "buckle loafers" as I call them, slipon loafers with a nonfunctional buckle at the toe, a style which was very common in the 19th century but is rarely seen today. (I made a pair myself out of ordinary loafers.)

Note also that the tip of each man's crossbelt is formed as a thistle.

[JSFMACLJR]

While all the other Highlanders are wearing generously proportioned broad bonnets, this fellow is wearing something altogether different, an upright style of bonnet with straight sides. Here I think you have the earliest portrayal of a glengarry being worn by a Scotsman.

A Hummel Bonnet, perhaps?
http://www.albanach.org/hummel.htm

[Brian K]

It could possibly be a kilmarnock bonnet without the usual diced band, but then, I've never seen a plain kilmarnock bonnet without dicing. Given the fact that Moray of Abercairney was painted wearing what is obviously a Georgian era glengarry, I think it is entirely possible that the clansman in the green tartan in Dighton's picture may have been wearing a glengarry as well.

According to the article in the link provided by Sandy, Hummel and Kilmarnock are two different names for the same piece of headgear. I had previously read the article and appreciate the reminder. Of course, it is entirely possible that the bonnet in question is something we haven't seen before. It seems likely that there was a greater range of bonnet styles, varying by region and/or maker prior to the narrowing of options to the Balmoral, Glengarry and Tam which are pretty much it today.

As to the origins of the Glengarry bonnet, a Wikipedia article (so take it with a grain of salt) claims the bonnet was first used in 1794 by the Glengarry Fencibles. It says that Alistair Ranaldson MacDonnell of Glengary, who founded the regiment, has been credited with invention of the bonnet, but it may originally have been a modification of the Balmoral bonnet by folding and creasing the latter.

We seem to have veered way of topic here, but suddenly the discussion seems more pleasant.

Regards,

Brian