Full mask sporrans revisited...

[Jock Scot]

An interesting point about being removed from the land. That said, I didn't see you vote, Jock! Should I count you among the anti-mask vote? Did I read on another thread that you personally only wear your black McRostie day sporran even for evening wear?

No I did not vote, as I just see the full mask sporran as rather unnecessary these days, I am not against them------I am a "Huntin', Shootin', Fishin' type" after all------- but they are not for me.

I have owned/worn several full mask and fur sporrans in my time all handmedowns and are probably quite valuable, but in truth I cant say that I was ever happy wearing them. So, about thirty years ago I "recycled" them(fur sporrans) amonst my sons and have worn my trusty black leather McRostie for nearly all kilted events since. Having said that, I am still looking for a non fur dress sporran that I like and I am willing to pay quite a lot of money for it, but thus far the thirty year search still continues*.

*See: "Jocks New Sporran" thread in my old threads.

Nathan. I will have a go answering the "social" aspect you raise in another post in this thread, perhaps tomorrow, as I am a wee tad tied up today.

[OC Richard]

I am still looking for a non fur dress sporran

That's quite a poser, Jock, because it's an oxymoron, at least in the 'traditional canon of sporran styles' which has been part and parcel to 'traditional Highland Dress' throughout the 20th century, where:

Evening Dress = fur or hair with silver top
Day Dress = leather (with or without fur front) or Hunting or Animal Mask or Culloden

So a 'non fur dress sporran' to my mind conjures up some fancy variant of a Hunting or Culloden type sporran.

How do we get 'dressy' with a leather sporran? What comes to mind is 1) metal bits and 2) types or colours of leather.

I've certainly seen sporrans which are made exactly like standard 20th century Evening Dress sporrans but with leather rather than fur.

The L&M Hunting sporrans made from two contrasting leather colours are quite beautiful.

Artificer has made some quite elaborate sporrans more or less in the Culloden mould.

A very interesting challenge!

Here's a Gaelic Themes sporran (from Henderson's site), sort of a mashup of Evening and Hunting sporrans. It strikes me personally as ungainly



Then there's these amazing Royal sporrans. Done up with silver metalwork and black leather they would be fancier than any fur sporran



L&M has done up some gorgeous Hunting sporrans which seem almost too nice for Day Dress. Would the one on the left pass for Evening?

[rondo]

I voted when this poll first came out, I'm in the minority. As beautiful as fur sporrans are I just can't seem to get behind buying one for myself. I can justify leathers of various types (bovine, shagreen, pig) as byproducts of the food industries world wide, I'm cool with horsehair sporrans as no equine has to die to provide the hair, but for myself, I just can't wear something that was killed simply so I might wear it as an accessory. I have no problem with others wearing their badger, ocelot, lynx, or what ever sporrans. I have 2 sporrans currently, a brown and black flap type day sporran and a blue shagreen sporran for dressier occasions both from Donnie at Wyvern.
Rondo

[BCAC]

I voted when this poll first came out, I'm in the minority. As beautiful as fur sporrans are I just can't seem to get behind buying one for myself. I can justify leathers of various types (bovine, shagreen, pig) as byproducts of the food industries world wide, I'm cool with horsehair sporrans as no equine has to die to provide the hair, but for myself, I just can't wear something that was killed simply so I might wear it as an accessory. I have no problem with others wearing their badger, ocelot, lynx, or what ever sporrans. I have 2 sporrans currently, a brown and black flap type day sporran and a blue shagreen sporran for dressier occasions both from Donnie at Wyvern.
Rondo

My bolding. You can have a full mask sporran where the 'beast' is obtained ethically and not "killed simply so that I might wear it as an accessory". The ethical statement from my full mask sporran maker (Kate MacPherson) is: "All the skins used for making my sporrans are ethically sourced, and are either left over from the game and farming industries, road kill, or have died a natural death or are reused materials from old stoles and bags." and is published on her website, here: http://www.katemacphersonsporrans.co...lstatement.htm. So no beastie was killed to make my full mask sporran.

[Nathan]

In terms of a non-fur dress sporran, I might suggest patent leather or silk.

[rondo]

My bolding. You can have a full mask sporran where the 'beast' is obtained ethically and not "killed simply so that I might wear it as an accessory". The ethical statement from my full mask sporran maker (Kate MacPherson) is: "All the skins used for making my sporrans are ethically sourced, and are either left over from the game and farming industries, road kill, or have died a natural death or are reused materials from old stoles and bags." and is published on her website, here: http://www.katemacphersonsporrans.co...lstatement.htm. So no beastie was killed to make my full mask sporran.

Which I certainly understand, and is why I am not telling anyone who likes these sporrans not to wear them. They simply are not for me, in the circles I travel.

[TheOfficialBren]

In terms of a non-fur dress sporran, I might suggest patent leather or silk.

Silk? I've not seen such a creature as a silk sporran.


I voted yes...but I do prefer the look of a horsehair sporran á la Orionson's Artificer sporran that he wore to his daughter's wedding. I'd buy one of those before a full mask sporran (unless the stars aligned differently).

Non-fur evening sporran...wooden face with very, very intricate carving and stained? Blimey that's a tough one! If anyone can invent such a thing it's Scott.

[Tim Little]

Having said that, I am still looking for a non fur dress sporran that I like and I am willing to pay quite a lot of money for it, but thus far the thirty year search still continues*.

Unless "hair" = "fur" perhaps our own OC Richard offers a promising direction:

dragongoat1.jpg

[Jock Scot]

Thanks for the suggestions chaps. Just so you know, hair does equal fur and multi coloured leather, heavy engraving, studs and those round target things on a sporran are exactly what I don't want! I shall know what I want when I see it and at the moment------well for many years------its like chasing mist on the hill. I can see it, but I cannot get my hands on it! There is no rush.

[Calgacus]

Unless "hair" = "fur" perhaps our own OC Richard offers a promising direction:

dragongoat1.jpg

Jock and Richard have 'previous' on this one

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f98/jock-82563/