Any ideas on the kilt color(s)?

[KeithM]

The following is a description of MacMartin the Younger before a battle. I am trying to figure out if he was wearing a saffron kilt and/or marked with some other colors. I am doing research on the MacMartin clan before they joined with Cameron, and trying to reconstruct the tartan.

Here too is MacMartin the younger, rising high above his whole line. His dark locks hang around his face and cover his cheeks, and his eyes shine like the stars, while his neck rivals the white flowers. His father and a great force of dependants accompany him, and an illustrious company of his brethren in their ranks surround him on every side. He himself, in variegated array, advances with lofty mein. Thó garter ribbons hanging at his leg were dyed with Corycian saffron, and with the tint of the Syrian shell, as was his plaid. The crest of his helmet glows with floating plumes, and the trappings of his mounted powder horn gleam in shining brass. His sister had embroidered his tunic with the red gold, and a double line of purple went round his terrible shoulders.

[macwilkin]

The following is a description of MacMartin the Younger before a battle. I am trying to figure out if he was wearing a saffron kilt and/or marked with some other colors. I am doing research on the MacMartin clan before they joined with Cameron, and trying to reconstruct the tartan.

Here too is MacMartin the younger, rising high above his whole line. His dark locks hang around his face and cover his cheeks, and his eyes shine like the stars, while his neck rivals the white flowers. His father and a great force of dependants accompany him, and an illustrious company of his brethren in their ranks surround him on every side. He himself, in variegated array, advances with lofty mein. Thó garter ribbons hanging at his leg were dyed with Corycian saffron, and with the tint of the Syrian shell, as was his plaid. The crest of his helmet glows with floating plumes, and the trappings of his mounted powder horn gleam in shining brass. His sister had embroidered his tunic with the red gold, and a double line of purple went round his terrible shoulders.

What's the source of this quote, particularly the time period? That information might help find an answer to your question.

T.

[Galician]

I would venture to say that the only color referred to for what we consider kilt-related is the saffron and the "syrian shell" (whatever that might be).

I would just question the source of the quote. From what period is it? Maybe it's a translation, but the language sounds pretty modern for anything significant to the period of development of what we now know as the kilt.

The other colors listed apply not to the "plaid" but to the tunic (leine?) which would have been worn underneath in more ancient times.

[hospitaller]

What's the source of this quote, particularly the time period? That information might help find an answer to your question.

T.

Google tells me that it came from Wikipedia

or from the 'Transactions of the Gaelic Society of Inverness'

[Paul Henry]

syrian shell

that will be pink/purple, the rather exclusive Roman purple used for the best people ( so of course why shouldn't it be used for kilts!) does Panache know about this??:-)

[Nick the DSM]

i think the person was wearing a saffron tunic with a plaid mantle.

i don't know what the tartan would be though.