Interesting ad I found in an old catalogue for tam-o-shanters with feathers

[Kriegbert]

[figheadair]

They appear to be ladies' fashion accessories based on the style of the male headdress.

[Pleater]

They are shown as being strangely small - which could be the fashion at the time, but might be a reason for the proclaimed cheapness.
Having always worn my caps at a rakish angle, the depiction of them in the horizontal looks rather odd too.

Anne the Pleater

[OC Richard]

Interesting that they were in vogue (however briefly) as a female fashion thing.

Here are Victorian men wearing bonnets with feathers

[Kriegbert]

Interesting that they were in vogue (however briefly) as a female fashion thing.

Here are Victorian men wearing bonnets with feathers

are all of these men non-clan chiefs?

[figheadair]

are all of these men non-clan chiefs?

I've no idea who they are but Nos 2 and 4 look like they might have been gentry.

[DunRovinStation]

#4 looks a little like Peter O'Toole