Full mask sporran: Yea or Nay?

**DrumMayer** · 28th July 10, 12:31 AM

Doing a bit of on-line window shopping for yet another sporran, and noticed many more full mask sporrans on offer than the recent past (at least to my subjective eye). I really hope this isn't coming back into fashion, as I despise the things. Don't get me wrong, I love animals, especially the ones that taste good. I just think it looks uncouth to have what appears to be a rodent of some kind "emerging," so to speak...

But then fashion has never been my strong suit. What say you? Yea or nay on the full mask?

**artificer** · 28th July 10, 05:24 AM

Personally speaking, I like them. I do have to add several caveats with this statement to make it 'true' for me...

1) the workmanship should be superlative, otherwise it looks like road-kill in your lap.

2) go for 'size appropriate' animals. I once saw a guy with a brown bear full mask! Who is compensating for something?

Conversely, if you 6'4 and 23 stone, you might want something bigger than a weasel.

3) Sometimes people have too much 'bling', with badges, cockades, fly plaids, dirks, claymores, targes, etc, etc, etc... I think that something like a full mask should be THE accent to your outfit. It shouldn't be at risk of getting lost in the outfit.

**OC Richard** · 28th July 10, 05:40 AM

To my eye they're very traditional-looking, for example

and I used to wear one back in the 1980's

but I know what you mean about the "road kill" factor, mostly when I see a bunch of them in a case

**Tobus** · 28th July 10, 05:43 AM

I think full mask sporrans are perfectly suitable, being as they are a solidly traditional piece of Highland attire. It's not really "fashion" at all. In fact, "fashion" has more to do with all the other non-traditional sporrans people are wearing nowadays.

That said, I do think that full mask sporrans can easily go over the edge. A badger, fox, or other traditional and normal animal is great. Skunk is pushing it a little (for me, anyway).

**Spc. Scott** · 28th July 10, 05:48 AM

I think they are a great addition to an outfit. Artificer made some really good points about what makes them or breaks them.

Although it wont be full mask, I just picked up a beautiful pelt that I have plans for. Believe it or not, it's an opossum. Really good looking pelt.

**Jock Scot** · 28th July 10, 05:57 AM

I am glad that you trimmed the bottom left hand side of "THAT" picture OCR!!!

**Manitoban Keith** · 28th July 10, 06:17 AM

I have always liked the full mask sporran and almost purchased one for my wedding a little while back. Unfortunately my darling wife-to-be at the time said I was not allowed to have dead animal faces on my crotch at the wedding, lol. I settled for a nice semi-dress targe with sealskin instead.

**Nighthawk** · 28th July 10, 07:09 AM

Originally Posted by Manitoban Keith

I have always liked the full mask sporran and almost purchased one for my wedding a little while back. Unfortunately my darling wife-to-be at the time said I was not allowed to have dead animal faces on my crotch at the wedding, lol. I settled for a nice semi-dress targe with sealskin instead.

I have to agree with your fiance... I think they things are a little unnerving. It's the eyes, really.

Originally Posted by Jock Scot

I am glad that you trimmed the bottom left hand side of "THAT" picture OCR!!!

I was personally a little dissapointed! It looses it's impact!

And as to the traditions of the full mask, I fully understand them and respect them, and would never tell someone that they can't or shouldn't wear one. It's just really not for me! I look at those things and see my little kitty Barbosa!

**Andy Proffitt** · 28th July 10, 07:23 AM

I think they are great when not over done (the over taxidermied ones that look like they are leaping off the...ahem...). My problem is that some I have looked at are rather small for me, at 6'2" and uh, some weight, they look like Ive hung a change purse on my chains.
A brown bear might be much, but I'd love to see a Black Bear full mask.

**Cygnus** · 28th July 10, 07:24 AM

One thing I love about full-mask sporrans is their versatility - you can wear the things just about anywhere without raising any (or many) eyebrows.

Having said that, though, I don't feel they're really for me - you don't see kilts often around these parts, so people aren't that familiar with the tradition - and having a full-mask sporran can be a bit shocking/off-putting to some. In addition to that, my wife is essentially a vegetarian and getting a fur sporran through the door is difficult enough - you add a face to it and it would be just about impossible!