Full mask sporrans revisited...

**Nathan** · 19th June 14, 05:00 AM

Nicely said, Calgacus. You're a credit to your Countrymen.

It's interesting, BCAC, that your daughter is a French girl and not a Scottish-French girl. I wonder if the French see her that way, assuming you have an identifiably Scottish last name. I know the Algerian, Morrocan and Haitian communities in France don't get to be just "French" even when they're born there. In Quebec, even if your daughter spoke perfect French and had a French mother, she wouldn't be considered "100% pure laine" and there would be a difference.

I find your attitude on the matter peculiar and I'm very glad that not all Scots are so easily and willingly assimilated - there is another way. The Jews travelled the world outside of their Levant homeland for 2000 years and remained an identifiable nation. They didn't disappear into the broader populations of Morocco, Spain, Poland, Germany or Russia. They remained a nation even though they were scattered amongst the nations. Today there is a State of Israel. Is there an obvious difference between an Israeli and a diaspora Jew from Crown Heights, NY? Certainly there is - but they are kin, they are both Children of Israel (Jacob) and while they are nationals of different countries, they are both part of a common ethno-cultural nation.

I am a son of Somerled. My Scottish origin is obvious to everyone who looks at me. I carry the name of one of the most powerful Highland clans in history. I'm also a proud Canadian - A Scottish-Canadian, a Canadian-Scot, a Cape Breton Gael, a New World Scot, a Nova Scotia Highlander - whatever term you wish to use. The reason these terms exist (and I clearly didn't invent them) is to articulate a concept which you seem incapable of grasping. We aren't exactly like all the other Canadians - we're the Scottish variety. It is the simple idea of a variety of ethno-cultural communities, sharing a diverse country. You don't have to check what you were at the door when you get here. That's enshrined in law.

Perhaps my forefathers should have stopped singing Gaelic songs and telling stories, smashed their pipes and fiddles, swore an oath off tartan, invented last names that weren't identifiable to any other country, invented brand new dances to brand new music and chugged maple syrup by the pint but that's not what happened.

Instead, they hosted feisinn, mods, ceilidhs, milling frolics and Highland Games. They established St. Andrew's Societies, and Caledonian Societies, and Sons of Scotland Societies, and lodges. They wove the symbols of Scotland into the symbols of Canada. They formed Scottish and Highland Regiments and defended the British Empire at home and on foreign soil. They made bagpipes, fiddles, spun wool and wove plaids. They baked scones and cooked white pudding. They taught these things to their sons and daughters who, in turn, taught them to theirs and so on.

It is for these reasons that I bristle at being called a "non-Scot". It's not because I'm of the delusional belief that I was raised in the Northern United Kingdom, it is because in my country, for my whole life, people have and do refer to me as Scottish - whether I wear a kilt or not. I know I wasn't born and raised in Scotland. I also know it doesn't change the facts. A Siamese cat that has never seen Thailand is, nonetheless, a Siamese cat. We still call the English Sassanchs and it has been a mighty long time since their ancestors have lived in Saxony.

The most valuable possession in my family is worthless to anyone else. It is a box of heirlooms (photos, obituaries, newspaper clippings, a prayer book and genealogy information that my family has been passing down since they arrived in Nova Scotia (New Scotland) in the early 1800s. All the expensive things could burn, but that is what any one of us would run back into a burning building to save.

You are entitled to think the efforts of my family and my community to resist assimilation and preserve our identity is folly. What you don't have the right to do is say it aloud without eliciting a forceful retort.

The wealthy landowners succeeded in forcing us out of Scotland, but they did not succeed in forcing the Scotland out of us - and neither will you.

P.S. I really like the polecat sporran - she did great work. You must be pleased!

**creagdhubh** · 19th June 14, 07:20 AM

Originally Posted by BCAC

Tom, don't be silly now! We're talking about being from where we were born and bred, not where we happen to be living. I moved to France for work, but I am a Scotsman born and bred and will stay a Scotsman till the day I die.

I have a daughter who was born in France. She knows of her Scottish heritage (of course) but she is French. She was born and bred in the South of France and is a French girl from the town of Nîmes.

To bring the post back on topic, I just recieved my full mask pole cat sporran from Kate MacPherson and I am delighted with it.

Attachment 19552

That's gorgeous, mate! Kate, yet again, did an outstanding job. Did you go with the military style v-gusset, or the full pouch? It appears from the photo that the leather on the reverse side is black, correct? Well done.

**Calgacus** · 19th June 14, 07:29 AM

Full mask sporrans aren't generally to my taste, but I actually quite like that one, BCAC.

Besides, it's the best use I can think of for a futret.

**creagdhubh** · 19th June 14, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by Nathan

It's a nice sporran but you should really hold out for a Scottish Wildcat... it is your destiny.

Aye, it is my destiny!!! I made a valiant attempt on two separate occasions when a Scottish Wildcat sporran went for auction on eBay. Both times, much to my chagrin, I was outbid. The second attempt was on an absolutely gorgeous Scottish Wildcat sporran that was in mint condition. This thing was a real beauty. It had hardly been worn, the fur was in superb condition, the taxidermy expertly done, was obviously well taken care of, and had a lovely tan leather back with a full pouch opening. Sadly, I was outbid; however, unbeknownst to me at the time, it went to a fellow Macpherson cousin whom I know quite well! Hahaha! I am always on the lookout for the elusive beast, so we shall see what the future holds.

John Macpherson of Montrose with his newly won, Scottish Wildcat sporran.

**Nathan** · 19th June 14, 09:35 AM

I have to say that there are some rather odd (to my eye) mask sporrans on the Kate MacPherson website. She's obviously a great artist but there are mink stole sporrans with two or three heads and a lot of birds (owls, ducks...). I'm still getting used to seeing some of these things.

Have these always been around?

**creagdhubh** · 19th June 14, 10:52 AM

Originally Posted by Nathan

I have to say that there are some rather odd (to my eye) mask sporrans on the Kate MacPherson website. She's obviously a great artist but there are mink stole sporrans with two or three heads and a lot of birds (owls, ducks...). I'm still getting used to seeing some of these things.

Have these always been around?

Yeah, I don't particularly care for those too much. They have not always been around on her website. She only recently started making the mink stole sporrans available for sale. I know in the past that she has had commissioners send her old, vintage mink stoles to be fashioned into sporrans. Whereas it may be a fine idea in theory, the end result is a bit ghastly to say the least. First of all, the head is entirely too small; hence the reasoning why she tends to use multiple heads, which looks quite odd. Secondly, there isn't enough of skin and fur to properly utilise the correct taxidermy skull for the mink, which makes the head (or heads) appear entirely too flat. Of course, she does the best she can with the materials provided to her, but I'm sorry, the vintage stole sporrans just look weird to me.

As far as the fowl sporrans are concerned, I do not care for those either. I just think they're a bit much. Like I have mentioned before, the only animal species that I think look smart as a full-mask sporran are the following: badger, mink, silver fox, red fox, polecat, Scottish Pine Marten, Scottish Wildcat, and otter. All of them the European variety too. The North American species of badger, marten (weasel family), and otter tend look a wee bit different, but more importantly, are usually larger and not as sleek as their European counterparts.

**Nathan** · 19th June 14, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by creagdhubh

Yeah, I don't particularly care for those too much. They have not always been around on her website. She only recently started making the mink stole sporrans available for sale. I know in the past that she has had commissioners send her old, vintage mink stoles to be fashioned into sporrans. Whereas it may be a fine idea in theory, the end result is a bit ghastly to say the least. First of all, the head is entirely too small; hence the reasoning why she tends to use multiple heads, which looks quite odd. Secondly, there isn't enough of skin and fur to properly utilise the correct taxidermy skull for the mink, which makes the head (or heads) appear entirely too flat. Of course, she does the best she can with the materials provided to her, but I'm sorry, the vintage stole sporrans just look weird to me.

As far as the fowl sporrans are concerned, I do not care for those either. i just think they're a bit much. Like I have mentioned before, the only animal species that I think look smart as a full-mask sporran are the following: badger, mink, silver fox, red fox, polecat, Scottish Pine Marten, Scottish Wildcat, and otter. All of them the European variety too. The North American species of badger, marten (weasel family), and otter tend look a wee bit different, but more importantly, are usually larger and not as sleek as their European counterparts.

I like my stole full mask sporran, but I don't like the multi-headed hyrda approach. I feel ok with the proportions of head to body on mine but I agree with you about the particularly small headed ones on her site. I don't mind a flatter, less life-like head. I posted this earlier in the thread and all of these pics before, but here it is in context.

full mask fox.jpg

Full mask.jpg

Nathan MacDonald.jpg

IMG_20140524_103634.jpg

checktweed2.jpg

Clan Donald Tent - Cobourg.jpg

Scottish Festival - Rideau Acres May 25, 2013 - Nathan Bishop MacDonald in Highland Kilt.jpg