January Tartan of the Month - What do you see?

**KenB** · 7th January 11, 05:09 PM

WOW! My guess was simply a "guess based on a bit of PEI history".

I am a M'Donald from PEI. My family is from St. Peter's Bay; just next to the "lots" wherein the John Alexander M'donalds resided. When this challenge was presented I was immediately drawn to it due to my family links to PEI. So, perhaps my Island links really helped me out.

I am, however, interested in knowing what this tartan really is. Is it a MacDonald or another unidentified piece? I'd love to know. I'd also love to have a kilt in this as well.

**figheadair** · 8th January 11, 12:01 AM

Originally Posted by KenB

WOW! My guess was simply a "guess based on a bit of PEI history".

I am a M'Donald from PEI. My family is from St. Peter's Bay; just next to the "lots" wherein the John Alexander M'donalds resided. When this challenge was presented I was immediately drawn to it due to my family links to PEI. So, perhaps my Island links really helped me out.

I have the famaily history of the owners of the pieces and it's facinating. They are historically very well connected with the area and descend from a number of the cadet families; Glenaladale, Borrodale, MacEachan etc.[/QUOTE]

I am, however, interested in knowing what this tartan really is. Is it a MacDonald or another unidentified piece? I'd love to know. I'd also love to have a kilt in this as well.

Let's not spoil it for everyone else just yet. All will be revealed. The tartan would make a beautiful kilt. We can discuss once the paper is published.

I'm sure that there is a lot of other stuff out there too just waiting to be discovered and I wish I could find some funding to go over but unfortunately no one over here seems to understand the historical importance.

**artificer** · 8th January 11, 05:32 AM

Originally Posted by figheadair

I'm sure that there is a lot of other stuff out there too just waiting to be discovered and I wish I could find some funding to go over but unfortunately no one over here seems to understand the historical importance.

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.

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.

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.

Thank you again for these.

ith:

**KenB** · 8th January 11, 05:43 AM

Artificer makes a good point. I'm wondering if there may be monies available thru the Canadian government, Ministry of Culture, for study of tartans found in Canada's provinces. As to the Scottish agencies, I have no idea what they may fund.

**figheadair** · 8th January 11, 08:17 AM

Originally Posted by KenB

Artificer makes a good point. I'm wondering if there may be monies available thru the Canadian government, Ministry of Culture, for study of tartans found in Canada's provinces. As to the Scottish agencies, I have no idea what they may fund.

That's an interesting question and one to which I don't know, nor know how to find, the answer.

Some years ago I investigated the possibility of doing something on the NS pieces vis the University of SFX but unfortunately that came to nought.

**figheadair** · 8th January 11, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by artificer

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.

**artificer** · 8th January 11, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by figheadair

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.

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.

Back to my first comment. They don't understand and therefore don't value their history.

I totally understand what you mean about where the votes come from.

I'd at least think that, what with the kilt being the "National Dress" and all, the govt could be bullied a bit into even taking a few token steps to preservation and cataloging the material the kilt was made from.

**figheadair** · 8th January 11, 09:45 AM

Originally Posted by artificer

I totally understand what you mean about where the votes come from.

I'd at least think that, what with the kilt being the "National Dress" and all, the govt could be bullied a bit into even taking a few token steps to preservation and cataloging the material the kilt was made from.

You would think. Unless there is a direct connection to business and thus making money/emplyment then unfortunately that's not my experience.