Quote Originally Posted by artificer View Post
Peter, I'm always flabbergasted that the Scottish government doesn't seem to take the care to archive and research (or, ideally, pay YOU to do so ) tartans more.
You and me both although I'm not surprised. Most MSP are from the Central Belt, where the main population lives, and don't understand the Highlands or the countryside to any great degree. And of course there are very few votes north of the Highland Line.

I'd imagine that due to the material (wool) and it's somewhat 'transitory' nature (dyes slowly fading, moths, time) that a few samples are lost every year.
Perhaps not every year but it is a one way process. I've recently persuaded the owners of a c1700-30 plaid to conserve it a replace it with a copy for everyday use. This will be the subject of a furute paper.

With the somewhat 'confused' nature of the post-1800 setts , I'm always amazed that they don't dedicate some funds to doing exactly what you are, researching these early setts.
Back to my first comment. They don't understand and therefore don't value their history.