Women, purses, Nicoll bros and the future of Scottish sporrans

[Andrew Breecher]

I think the freelander is the nicest one I've ever seen. One day I'll own one as my dress sporran.

Although I've seen that David and Sten made a sporran of hair, the rest of their sporrans are not dress sporrans. They are very much day wear sporrans. Don't get me wrong - I love them. I own one in brown that wear nearly every day, and I have a black one on my list of things to buy when I can spare the money. But they aren't dress sporrans.

Andrew.

[Bob C]

I think the freelander is the nicest one I've ever seen. One day I'll own one as my dress sporran.

Freelanders are NOT dress sporrans. They appear to be beautifully crafted, but they're definitely casual.

[A Hay]

The topic of Sporrans of the Future has caused me to reflect on where I think I might want to go with the sporrans I've been working on. Here's my feelings on the subject, for what they're worth.

I've seen the mass production and some handmade sporrans on websites and at some of the Highland Games in the States, and while they are adequate (for the mass produced type) and quite handsome for some of the handmades, albeit expensive, I felt there was perhaps a niche for another type.

I don't necessarily like the tassles for a daywear sporran, because they can be noisy and catch on things.

The couple of inexpensive one's I bought early on had snap closures, and I could never get them to snap. And, as others mentioned elsewhere, the openings are too small for larger hands.

So I thought I would try to modify the flap to be larger, and thus offer a place to put a design, while keeping the traditional shape. I've also made the gusset wider, making the sporran about a half=inch wider from front to back.

I'm trying to make them (as shown on some previous posts) like I think a craftsman might make something for everyday wear. Not fancy for a Lord or
Gentleman, but simple and utilitarian for a tradesman or a prosperous farmer. The carvings in the leather carry a theme, the Rampant Lion of Scotland, the Harp of Ireland, and the Dragon of Wales, because they are readily identifiable symbols of those celtic cultures. I also have some other ideas I'm working on, as my skills and tools improve.

Sporrans are partly utilitarian, particularly for casual and daywear, so I for one like the new designs and new materials that are coming out (hot pink in shiny vinyl, may be going too far though!!). But I hope there is a place for traditional style (shape and size), with some modest variations for folks to express their individuality.

I thank others who have made sporrans and displayed them on this site. You have aided me to improve and given me ideas for the future. I hope you all keep making more and improving your skills. I enjoy seeing your pictures and reading about what went right and wrong.

Thanks also to all of you who have encouraged me in my projects. I hope to soon be able to take some orders, but not yet. I've sold or given as gifts some of the prototypes and the feedback has been helpful.

Respectfully,
Tom

[Dirka Skene]

I think that's a great idea. It should catch on quite nicely. Fashionable, functional, casual sporrans for everyday use.

[Twa_Corbies]

I have to admit that I'm not all that impressed by the more recent trends in sporrans. While we have dealt with ugly sporrans for quite some time (ever since the idea of "decorating" the face of a daywear leather sporran with a bit of hairy cow-hide to produce a "semi-dress" sporran that is asthetically unsuitable for all occassions), we are now faced with the issue of avant guard modern-art sporrans that look like a techno-punk fashion accessory, along with the rather obsolete looking Jacobite reinactment sporrans for those who want to carry their car keys and wallet around in what looks like something purchashed from a Rennassaince festival; and then there are the ebay sporrans made in Pakistan - the leather day-wear versions of which all seem to be available only in black (a bit formal a color for casual day dress), and the evening versions of which are all made from cheaply stitched together rabbit-fur with stamped tin cantles.

Sadly, it seems that no one is now producing the type of sporrans that have survived and been handed down for generations among the Highland lairds and gentlemen of the clans back home, of which the following are some excellent examples:







The following examples from The Mad Piper are the closest I could find to the traditional designs:

[JSFMACLJR]

It can be quite a challenge to find nice, top quaity sporrans nowadays. The Fergusson Britt sporrans are extremely nice ( although I do not as yet have one ). If you are willing to pay top dollar, you can have an evening sporran made. I had one made for me by Caledonian Crafts a couple of years ago:



I am delighted with this sporran!

At one time Cuillinn Craft ( http://cuillinn.com/highland.html ) made very beautiful day sporrans. I am not sure if they still do. Here are a couple of pictures of their sporrans:




As you have shown, House of Labhran from time to time has absolutely beautiful sporrans. It would be nice if a craftsman could make these again.

Kind regards,
Sandford MacLean

[Twa_Corbies]

Those are all very nice indeed. I am impressed with Fergusson Britt's sporrans - particularly when he makes them using metal cantles as I have seen pictured elsewhere here on another thread. I recently acquired a well-made but rather plain old-style brass cantle sporran that has an actual working catch closure, which I bought on ebay. Unfortunately it is so narrow I can't get my hand in it, and though well-made, I have considered asking Mr. Britt if he could fit it with a new (roomier) bag. I think it would make a nice traditional day wear sporran if given a few tassels.