New Kilt Style

[Dale-of-Cedars]

More on the illustration; I'm also noting the spats worn with hunting attire... keeping crud out of the shoe and laces.

Argh! The weapons-safety daemon in me notes that his firearm is probably pointed at the lady's (Queen Victoria's?) head!

[M. A. C. Newsome]

I know Bob Martin has replicated this style of kilt, with the large box pleat on the side, for a client at least once before. He showed me the portrait he used for inspiration when he did his recreation, and it was not that one. I'll have to see if I can find that portrait. But yes, such a kilt is depicted in at least one other contemporary source.

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Ok, so the answer is both yes and no on the above. I thought I had seen the painting that Bob Martin used when he recreated his "side box pleat" style of kilt in a book called Queen Victoria's Life in the Scottish Highlands depicted by her watercolour artists. When I looked through the book, however, all I found was the engraving which Robert has already posted here.

The engraving in that book is credited to W. H. Simmons and is "after Sir Edwin Landseer." So I assumed that the watercolor image Bob had shown me was most likely the Landseer. A quick Google search and here it is (sorry the image is not a good enough one to show much detail).


The painting is called "Royal Sports on Hill and Loch."

[artificer]

Here's a link to some French info regarding the painting (which is titled "Royal Sports on Hill and Loch)

http://www.timothyjpmason.com/WebPag.../Landseer1.htm

A few interesting differences between the original illustration and the later etching.

1) the hose are solid in colour and appear, as best I can see, to NOT be castellated, but to have a rather standard patterned top like today's shooting socks.

2) the hat is different. The ear/back flap looks to be of a totally different shape, with the etching having a distinct ear flap where the original has more of a single straight back-flap with no distinct ear.

3) the kilt appears to be depicted differently, with what look like pleats toward the front of the larger "box", but I cannot find an image much larger than the one spotted by Matt.

Robert,
I completely understand your take on it, I was just wondering if you'd researched or were just taken with the image as is. It'll definitely be a beauty!

ith:

[RockyR]

To me, it looks like a traditional kilt that was too small for the wearer, so the first few inches of the under apron are showing. Could just be the detail of the pic.

[Derek]

Robert ... I think it looks (to use a modern word) 'real groovy'. Its different in a real classy way. I take it the large box pleat is on both sides of the Kilt? ... or am I wrong.
Cant wait to see a pic when your good lady makes you one.
Iechyd Da
Derek

[herminator]

Will it have another wide box pleat on the other side or will it be assymetrical?

Shalom
Hermann

[Paul Henry]

To me, it looks like a traditional kilt that was too small for the wearer, so the first few inches of the under apron are showing. Could just be the detail of the pic.

When I first saw the picture, that was my thought as well, that and a certain ammount of artistic licence, possibly via several artists copying others' works.However I don't see any reason not to give it a try, I'm all for experimentatiion with kilt making and wearing

[Ancienne Alliance]

Yes, the large box pleat will be on each side.

We are just waiting for the first customer who will dare place an order and the kilt will be on it's way.

As for myself, I have other priorities on my wish list...


Best,

Robert