Tartan name

[figheadair]

Kind of funny that they slapped the "hunting" tag on it, isn't it? Because the tartan, as I understand, was lifted from that painting at a much later date, and that fellow certainly doesn't look like he's dressed for hunting!

I can't recall when the Hunting suffix first appeared; DC Stewart used it in his Setts but I'm not sure about his father's Old & Rare. One to check. I suspect that the reason it was added was to differentiate it from the red Lord of the Isles, also worn by Alexander MacDonald, this one from a slightly earlier portrait.

As I understand it's one of the tartans which, in modern times, has been lifted from an 18th century painting, from a period before tartans were named, and before the notion of 'clan tartans' existed

.

The vast majority of early tartans that now bear clan names are similarly taken from portraits of fragments associated with one particular individual or family but in truth we have no idea how widely they were worn or whether they were a local weaver's sett or woven to order. A mixture of both I suspect.

(BTW it looks like his kilt is boxpleated all around, doesn't it?)

Yes it is and the squareness of them suggests that they might have been partially sewn unlike that of Lord George Murray for example.

[Nathan]

this



That fellow, I'd guess, had no name whatsoever for the pattern of his outfit. It was probably just 'my green outfit'.

Nowadays we call it MacDonald Lord Of The Isles (hunting). There's also an Allen Brothers 'MacDonald of the Isles' tartan.

Sorry, just to clarify, who exactly is depicted in this portrait?
(edit: Never-mind, I think it's Sir Alexander Macdonald 1744-1795. 9th Baronet of Sleat and 1st Baron Macdonald of Slate)
Also, his kilt looks to be pleated in the front. Was this ever common?

[Riverkilt]

Thanks for the band pic O.C. Some years ago at the Phoenix games some self appointed expert in the clan tent informed me that ONLY Prince Charles was authorized to wear this tartan. Told him Lochcarron would be real sad to hear that since they sell so much of it. I'd had a necktie in this tartan for some 30 years. I was so irritated I called the Clan Donald USA guru's and they all assured me there was no problem with wearing this tartan. I knew that, but nice to have the official word.

So, next games I went looking for him to tell him what for but couldn't find him. Lady at the clan tent told me he was so rude and stupid to everyone that they asked him to please not come back this year. So, never got to give him what for, but did get it clear about neckties and high school bands, and Lochcarron being able to wear and sell this most lovely tartan.

[figheadair]

Sorry, just to clarify, who exactly is depicted in this portrait?
(edit: Never-mind, I think it's Sir Alexander Macdonald 1744-1795. 9th Baronet of Sleat and 1st Baron Macdonald of Slate)
Also, his kilt looks to be pleated in the front. Was this ever common?

Nathan - you've answered your own question on the sitter's identity. He was also the younger of the pair of MacDonald Boys in the c1750 portrait.

Pleating all around was not common, especially by then but was not unknown earlier see below Lord George Murray c1745.

[davidlpope]

One of the Duke of Windsor's ensembles:

[MacLowlife]

Is it just me or does this outfit look long and thin? Maybe they have put the kilt a little low on the mannequin?

Web sources for the Duke's height vary, between 5'5" and 5'7". I don't think he was ever very big around, but this kilt gives the impression of being about twice as long as it is wide at the waist.

Come to think of it, they seem to have his plaid on sideways, too.

One of the Duke of Windsor's ensembles:

[figheadair]

As promised. Handwoven and natural dyes (indigo and weld).





Ref the date of the Hunting suffix, I checked Old & Rare where it's so called and therefore as this was not produced commercially before Stewart's 1893 publication I guess we have him to blame.

[davidlpope]

Is it just me or does this outfit look long and thin? Maybe they have put the kilt a little low on the mannequin?

Web sources for the Duke's height vary, between 5'5" and 5'7". I don't think he was ever very big around, but this kilt gives the impression of being about twice as long as it is wide at the waist.

Come to think of it, they seem to have his plaid on sideways, too.

I think you're right. My guess is that they did not overlap the doublet over the top of the kilt. I suspect that they have as much confusion about "kilt waist/true waist vs. 'modern' waist" as most Highland Games attendees...