Brass Cantled Sporrans - Need Historical Guidance

**Downunder Kilt** · 28th August 10, 06:19 PM

As you have been Artificer, I have tried to do a web search for more info on the cantle. I have searched for highland soldiers in the Boer War and the only reference I can find to sporrans were white ones that had the affect of being a target for the boers to shoot at. The only pictures I could find of around that era were paintings of soldiers of the Black Wtach who were all wearing the horse hair sporran with what looks to be a leather cantle. I have been able to find a photo of what I believe to be a similar cantle with bag that was auctioned by a military auction house (see below)

I am also posting a diagram that was posted in another thread, sorry I don't remember by whom, but they deserve the credit (has a similar shaped bag to that in the photos)

I dont think the sporrans with the hangers have provision for a strap to be attatched to the cantle so you would use the hanger to attach to your kilt belt.

**JSFMACLJR** · 28th August 10, 06:33 PM

Originally Posted by artificer

Speaking of cantles, there's a silver 17th Lancers Boer War cantle closing in about 15 hours that looks THE BUSINESS!

Unfortunately, it's a tad out of my price range

I don't mean to be ignorant, but why would a trooper or officer of a regiment of lancers have a sporran as part of his uniform?

**artificer** · 28th August 10, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by JSFMACLJR

I don't mean to be ignorant, but why would a trooper or officer of a regiment of lancers have a sporran as part of his uniform?

Beats me. I'm just reporting based off the title on the auction.

It might be an officers personal item. The original owner is named in the auction.
All my research into the 17th (which is pretty minimal, and web-based) show nothing of the sort as part of their uniform.

One way or the other, it's a gorgeous piece. And too rich for my wallet

Downunder,
there are MANY references to white parts (ie the chest) of the foreign service uniform being folded back, as it made a perfect target

Good find on the other sporran with hanger!

**ThistleDown** · 28th August 10, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by JSFMACLJR

I don't mean to be ignorant, but why would a trooper or officer of a regiment of lancers have a sporran as part of his uniform?

Makes one wonder, doesn't it, Sandy? No matter because the cantle on e-bay and the illustration posted by Downunder are examples of a chatelaine's belt purse and not sporrans at all. The latter one is quite crudely scratch-engraved, whilst the former may be silver plated cast brass, for all we know. Perhaps the seller is stretching the truth with provinance, description and construction, all three.

Rex

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 29th August 10, 04:43 AM

Just for future info, we have The Book of th Club of the True Highlanders in our collection at the Scottish Tartans Museum and one day the illustrations from the reference will be photographed and made available at:
http://resources.scottishtartans.org

But it may be a while. We have several more nineteenth century tartan books to photograph and upload first. But eventually, it will be available on our site, as well. In the meantime, if anyone wants to come to Franklin and make an appointment....

**artificer** · 29th August 10, 04:49 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

Just for future info, we have The Book of th Club of the True Highlanders in our collection at the Scottish Tartans Museum and one day the illustrations from the reference will be photographed and made available at:
http://resources.scottishtartans.org

But it may be a while. We have several more nineteenth century tartan books to photograph and upload first. But eventually, it will be available on our site, as well. In the meantime, if anyone wants to come to Franklin and make an appointment....

I'd love to make an appointment, but it's about an 11 hour drive for me

Thank you, Matt, and the Museum for your online reference book collection.

I love just paging through all of them.

BTW: Any thought to the MacLeay book being digitized?

**Downunder Kilt** · 29th August 10, 05:17 AM

Thanks for the invite Matt and would love to come the STM for a visit one day, but a 70+ hour air round trip just to get to your state takes a bit of organising.

Thanks for all the info you have put on the site so far and look forward to the additions in the future

**ThistleDown** · 29th August 10, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

Just for future info, we have The Book of th Club of the True Highlanders in our collection at the Scottish Tartans Museum and one day the illustrations from the reference will be photographed and made available at:
http://resources.scottishtartans.org

But it may be a while. We have several more nineteenth century tartan books to photograph and upload first. But eventually, it will be available on our site, as well. In the meantime, if anyone wants to come to Franklin and make an appointment....

Perhaps I now know where there are twelve! Matt, is the copy in the Museum the same one formerly owned by Stuart Davidson?

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 29th August 10, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by ThistleDown

Perhaps I now know where there are twelve! Matt, is the copy in the Museum the same one formerly owned by Stuart Davidson?

I'll have to double check the frontispiece but I believe our copy has an ex libris book plate of Macgregor of Macgregor.

**ThistleDown** · 29th August 10, 01:46 PM

Originally Posted by M. A. C. Newsome

I'll have to double check the frontispiece but I believe our copy has an ex libris book plate of Macgregor of Macgregor.

Then your copy will probably have belonged to Helen Macgregor of Macgregor, one of the original subscribers. I know Stuart had a copy, although I don't know who owned it before him; I wonder what became of it.