Tassels on a sporran

[Jordan]

Got it in one, It's Boyd/Baird Modern.

ith:

The only reason I guessed that was due to spending a whole evening with a gentleman telling me I has stolen mr Boyd's kilt and he wanted it back

[MacRobert's Reply]

I have a couple of sporrans with working cantles, common in the 18th Century although these are the 1950s MOD versions. I find the central tassel is functional if it starts above the level of the cantle hinge - release the catch and pull on the tassel to open the sporran. Isn't experimental archeology wonderful! Because the bags are made of soft leather, rather than the stiff leather of many modern sporrans which acts like a sounding board, they do not drum. Such stealth sporrans do nor announce your arrival.

[The Barry]

The POV of us pipers is that you drummers wear your sporran all catty-wampus on your hip, like a Tilted Kilt waitress, anyway.

Hey now, we do what we have to do. Means to an end, since without us, a bunch of pipers trying to walk in the same direction would just turn into a chaotic mob. And nobody wants a chaotic mob of confused pipers.

[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.

[BoldHighlander]

Oooooh that's so nice Terry. The epitome of understated elegance. The quality shines through.

Is that Cooper tartan in the background? My grandmother's side were Coopers.

Thank you Richard.

See Scott's/Artificer's answer below (my post previous), it was a picture he took before sending the sporran my way

[BoldHighlander]

I'm not a big fan on those styles of sporran they just look too empty at the front for my tastes.

To each their own...

It does look nice thought and great a quality sporran.

Indeed...top shelf! :mrgreen:

[NewEnglander]

Everytime I see a pic of this beautiful sporran, whether in your profiled pic or the full image here, I am very jealous and itch to order one like it for myself. Congrats to you on the fine piece and bravo to the artisan who crafted it!

[BoldHighlander]

http://i1022.photobucket.com/albums/...s/DSC08323.jpg
Everytime I see a pic of this beautiful sporran, whether in your profiled pic or the full image here, I am very jealous and itch to order one like it for myself. Congrats to you on the fine piece and bravo to the artisan who crafted it!

Thanks mate!

...and pssst! It was crafted by our own Artificer (give him a shout!)