Tassels on a sporran

[The Barry]

Huh. I thought it was common knowledge that the tassels were, originally, "draw strings" that closed one or more "pockets" inside the sporran's bag. As the use of the sporran evolved from a multi-purpose hold all to a gentleman's purse intended primarily for show, the tassels remained as a decorative feature.

Wow, I didn't know that at all. Thanks for the post! Does anybody have any pictures of how they used to work?

[Ryan Ross]

Wow, I didn't know that at all... Does anybody have any pictures of how they used to work?

Same way as they do now.

[Lallans]

The pitter patter of the tassels tends to drive me to distraction.

After a short while I start to walk funny in order to make them stop. OK maybe I always walk funny, so... funnier.

[MacBean]

Get a fur sporran with fur tassels; they're silent.

[OC Richard]

I have a question: is this actually how sporrans used to be made? By "actually" I mean, are there surviving early sporrans like this? Or is this an example of a modern creation based on presumptions or guesses about the past, or a modern creation "inspired" by the past?

If there is an extant early specimen like this, could somebody post a photo?

The earliest sporrans I saw in museums in Scotland were mid-18th century examples, on which the tassels were already merely decorative. They looked like this (a modern copy)



By the late 18th century the sporrans had become dressier with large numbers of small tassels



and by the 1820s and 1830s looked like this. Red binding, cones, and even tassels are often seen at that time



By the 1840s sporrans had got longer. In the military they always had six or five short tassels. (Military sporrans with two or three long tassels didn't appear until later)



I might point out that nowadays most civilian pipe band sporrans lack tassels. I think it's mostly being practical: pipe band kit gets hard use and if a band's sporrans have Evening Dress sporran type tassels on little chains, sooner or later a number of sporrans in the band will have missing tassels.

The most popular pipe band sporran by far (at some competitions worn by 90% of the bands) is a black leather sporran with a body like a Hunting Sporran (with flat rivetted-down vestigal tassels) and a chrome cantle. There's nothing to fall off, nothing to get lost

[Ryan Ross]

I have a question: is this actually how sporrans used to be made? By "actually" I mean, are there surviving early sporrans like this? Or is this an example of a modern creation based on presumptions or guesses about the past, or a modern creation "inspired" by the past?

If there is an extant early specimen like this, could somebody post a photo?

I have seen a surviving historical piece that is in form, including the large belt loop, nearly identical to this one. Sadly, I am unable to find a picture just now. Does anyone else know the one I mean, and if so, can you find a picture? As I recall, it was made out of what looked like undyed deer skin.

...at any rate, I did find one portrait that shows a sporran very simmilar to mine, complete with a gathered leather bag and draw strings. We can't see wether it was worn on its own belt or on the belt which held his plaid on, however it looks to me that it must hang from a sporran belt.




EDIT: I found the one I was thinking of. It's the fourth picture down, on the lefthand side. http://www.picturetrail.com/sfx/album/view/4813605
And here's another picture of the same sporran:


...Lamar got pretty close when he made mine, I'd say.

[OC Richard]

Thank you so much for posting the photos of that original sporran! And the portrait of that style being worn. (Lord Duffus?)

[Ryan Ross]

Thank you so much for posting the photos of that original sporran! And the portrait of that style being worn. (Lord Duffus?)

My pleasure, good sir!

And aye, it's Kenneth Sutherland, indeed.

[Zardoz]

Wow, I didn't know that at all. Thanks for the post! Does anybody have any pictures of how they used to work?

Wow! I sorted that out in post #8