Tartan of the Month - July. What do you see?

**figheadair** · 2nd July 11, 11:21 PM

Originally Posted by Morris at Heathfield

The selvage appears to be a bit ragged. Blue herringbone selvage pattern, but red at the very edge. Apart from the basic red, green, and blue colors in the tartan, I also see very narrow azure "tramline" stripes and salmon stripes bordering the rightmost red stripe. I would guess this is another tartan from the first half of the 18th century, probably used as a plaid.

Good so far:

Portion of (probably) an early 18th Century plaid wil a herringbone selvedge. The dating has an interesting twist which I will reveal later.

There's more.

**figheadair** · 6th July 11, 09:44 PM

Come come. No-one else?

**figheadair** · 15th July 11, 10:32 AM

Hummmm. It looks like the rabble has become tired of trying, not only this month but the past couple. I though that there was an interest in seeing some of the older pieces and at the same time learning something of the techniques that went into their making. Shall I continue after thing one?

**The Monk** · 15th July 11, 10:44 AM

I'd like you to continue. I know zip about anything so I don't respond but I enjoy the reading.

**piperdown** · 15th July 11, 11:44 AM

Originally Posted by The Monk

I'd like you to continue. I know zip about anything so I don't respond but I enjoy the reading.

I know nothing either but enjoy the threads.

**Morris at Heathfield** · 19th July 11, 08:57 PM

Hm, not sure what more I can figure out about the tartan from the photograph that I haven't already. I suppose I'll make a haphazard guess as to the location where it was found: Mar.

By the way, I've read about a hypothesis that all or most of the tartans predating the Proscription can be divided (roughly by geography) into three or four types. Jamie Scarlett recognized three types: the Ross type worn north of the Great Glen, the Mackintosh type worn in the Grampians, and the Macdonald type worn in the west. I have a book that gives four types: Huntly, Glenorchy, Lochaber, and Lennox. What's your take on the idea, Peter?

**Nick the DSM** · 19th July 11, 09:03 PM

Looks like the Galloway district tartan.

**figheadair** · 20th July 11, 04:38 AM

Originally Posted by Morris at Heathfield

Hm, not sure what more I can figure out about the tartan from the photograph that I haven't already. I suppose I'll make a haphazard guess as to the location where it was found: Mar.

Very haphazard. Why Mar? Actually, that's about as far off beam as it's possible to get.

By the way, I've read about a hypothesis that all or most of the tartans predating the Proscription can be divided (roughly by geography) into three or four types. Jamie Scarlett recognized three types: the Ross type worn north of the Great Glen, the Mackintosh type worn in the Grampians, and the Macdonald type worn in the west. I have a book that gives four types: Huntly, Glenorchy, Lochaber, and Lennox. What's your take on the idea, Peter?

You may want to post this as a separate thread as it's a huge subject and one that has been discussed before I'm sure, probably in the context of district tartans. I'm broadly in agreement with the concept of regional groupings but not necessarily with Jamie Scarlett's classification. Historically I certainly don't recognise the four types you quote. The trouble is that previous writers have based their ideas on groups that include post c1780 setts in which I include: Huntly, Lochaber and Lennox.

I'm working on a paper that I hope will prove the existance of a generic Applin/Lorn/Lochaber setting based on several pre-'45 specimens.