HOS sporrans in the flesh

[creagdhubh]

Notwithstanding my prior comment about the availability of racoon pelts, in the interest of fairness to Ameila Murray MacGregor, I Googled some photos of silver foxes. Although most of them have black faces/snouts, have a look at these:

Attachment 17431

Attachment 17432

Attachment 17433


A lot of the juveniles have lighter faces.

Excellent photos, Nathan! Something else to consider is the fact that animal pelts (of the same species) used for full-mask sporrans, will more than likely vary slightly in colour and overall appearance from one to the next. I still maintain the premise that the sporran in question is, in fact, of a silver (grey) fox and not a raccoon.

[artificer]

Excellent photos, Nathan! Something else to consider is the fact that animal pelts (of the same species) used for full-mask sporrans, will more than likely vary slightly in colour and overall appearance from one to the next. I still maintain the premise that the sporran in question is, in fact, of a silver (grey) fox and not a raccoon.

Raccoon pelts will also vary quite a bit in colour based on where they were living. Look at some of the wide variation HERE.

Which could potentially account for the 'bandit mask' and light body. Although, when I look at the full plate the sporran on the right does seem especially long, and raccoons DO tend to have a darker dorsal 'stripe' so perhaps fox IS the answer.


I think this particular case might be left a mystery for the time being, unless someone in the Mackintosh clan had further notes that might shed extra light on the situation.

ith:

[creagdhubh]

Raccoon pelts will also vary quite a bit in colour based on where they were living. Look at some of the wide variation HERE.

Which could potentially account for the 'bandit mask' and light body. Although, when I look at the full plate the sporran on the right does seem especially long, and raccoons DO tend to have a darker dorsal 'stripe' so perhaps fox IS the answer.


I think this particular case might be left a mystery for the time being, unless someone in the Mackintosh clan had further notes that might shed extra light on the situation.

ith:

Excellent points, Scott. Thanks for the link too.

Cheers,

[OC Richard]

Note that several of the foxes have a light stripe down the centre of the face, while the Raccoons have a dark stripe down the centre of the face. (In the HOS double portrait the sporran on the left has a very faint stripe, the one on the right a bit darker.)

[creagdhubh]

Note that several of the foxes have a light stripe down the centre of the face, while the Raccoons have a dark stripe down the centre of the face. (In the HOS double portrait the sporran on the left has a very faint stripe, the one on the right a bit darker.)

We may never know; however, what we do know is that according to Ameila Murray MacGregor, the sporran(s) are made of fox. Whatever animal pelt they are made of, they look quite smart nonetheless!