Horsehair Sporrans

[James]

Owl of Oban is quite right, people would dress up in the imagined attire of the
'wild untamed highlander', and so be pictured.

When in fact they'd probably wear trews or even the normal attire of the English upper classes: of which they saw themselves as a part.

The point being that the kilt is practical wear-imagine wearing a fancy hairy sporran on the hill all day, and in all weathers?

To get the point, look at the miltary portraits of the second part of the 19thC-all the finery: and then look at actual photographs of the time.

James

[MACKAY]

I have a b/w photo of my Great Grandfather standing outside of his croft in his kilt, jacket and vest with watch chain and fob, and is wearing a long horse hair sporran with what appears to be black hose and black lace up shoes. The photo dates around 1880. He is not in his "Formal Wear", nor was he a piper. However he did serve in the Black Watch, so this may be his sporran from his time in the service.

I do not have a scanner, however I am going get this photo, and several others that I have, and have then scanned in the near future.

Brian

[RockyR]

I'll vote for the "no go" side but for a different reason. If you're looking for a sporran for "everyday wear", you probably want one with lots of room.

Horsehair sporrans have VERY limited (if ANY AT ALL) pocket space to put your "stuff". We have 1 for sale in the shop and it has a VERY small pocket on the back... enough for your credit cards and money and MAYBE a couple keys. Many Horsehair sporrans don't have any pockets and you're left making your friends carry your stuff.

I can hear it now... "Can you hold my money at the bar... I don't have any pockets". "SURE!"

[highlander_Daz]

I come from a military family with grandparents in the Gordon Highlanders and an Uncle who served in the Black Watch, there is a very old photo of the Gordon Highlanders with my GG Grandfather on it and they all have horsehair sporrans Ill try and find a link

[highlander_Daz]

hes bottom left behind the machine gun

[davedove]

While there may have been some historical wear of the horsehair sporran, with the exception of military and pipe band wear, you just don't see them anywhere else in modern wear. I suppose if you were trying to recreate a period look, it would work, but not a modern look.

[Presuming Ed]

At the balls in Scotland I've been to- generally white tie type evenings, there have always been a few horsehair (or other long hair) sporrans about - generally antique ones, with nicely made sterling silver cantles. At a guess, I'd say that they'de been inherited. Looks best with some form of velvet doublet/jacket - a combination which to my eyes looks pretty good. Wouldn't wear one of the generally available piper's sporrans, though.

Oh, and nobody ever wears white hose! :-)

[Macman]

Ed, I'm interested in the hose they wear with white (or black) tie. Is it generally tartan or diced?

[highlander_Daz]

neither

normally off-white sometomes I wear black looks pretty sharp (not just for sombre occasions)

[HeathBar]

Again, I want to thank everyone for their input. Just to rest your minds, I don't have a hair sporran...yet. And if I ever do purchase one, it wouldn't be for everyday wear. I would only consider it for semi-formal daywear, a time where someone might wear a light gray argyll jacket and muted(ancient) tartan kilt. I don't think it would look right in a dark colored jacket or a kilt of modern colors.
Call me crazy, I guess I just like the look.

I have a b/w photo of my Great Grandfather standing outside of his croft in his kilt, jacket and vest with watch chain and fob, and is wearing a long horse hair sporran with what appears to be black hose and black lace up shoes. The photo dates around 1880. He is not in his "Formal Wear", nor was he a piper. However he did serve in the Black Watch, so this may be his sporran from his time in the service.

BMackay has probably got it right. Perhaps the photograhs and illustrations where we see a hair sporran worn with civilian dress is a reflection upon their previous military experience.

Highlander_Daz:
Thanks for posting that photo. Its great that you have such a treasure.