Dicing on bonnets

[BBNC]

Is there any significance to the dicing patterns and colors found on bonnets? I realize of course, that military units and pipe bands will have uniformity, but what about the rest of us?

My other question: is a Kilmarnock the same as a Balmoral?

[Harold Cannon]

One person explained to me that there used to be a significance as to barons as it was to mimic the look of a mural crown which used to be the sign of a baron. MacMillan of Rathdown may be able to shed more light on this.

[JohntheBiker]

I think that the answer to your questions is no and no.

There might have been some significance to dicing at some point in time but there are so many different unsubstantiated versions that you should take these with a grain of salt.

[creagdhubh]

I do believe this topic has been addressed from time to time on the forum before and the general consensus was that the dicing on Highland bonnets are purely decorative. Though, dicing or the coquet pattern can be found on the armorial bearings of various Highland and Lowland gentlemen, though especially pronounced with the Stewarts (Stuarts).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Stewart

[BBNC]

I think that the answer to your questions is no and no.

There might have been some significance to dicing at some point in time but there are so many different unsubstantiated versions that you should take these with a grain of salt.

If a Kilmarnock and a Balmoral are different, what is the difference?

[BCAC]

If a Kilmarnock and a Balmoral are different, what is the difference?

Try googling the two terms. You will easily see the difference.

[Phil]

There is a school of thought that dicing was to symbolise allegience to the then crown i.e. the Hanoverians. Not the most popular dynasty in that they were the royals during the War of Independence. This may, of course, just be the usual sort of rubbish that circulates here from time to time regarding the origins of highland dress but if you do wish to avoid any possible sign of allegiance to the 18th century British Crown perhaps best avoided.

[truckie561]

Doubt I'm gonna be much help with this one, but as far as SOME Pipe & Drum bands go, the diced bonnets are SOMETIMES reserved for the drummers in the band while the pipers don't have the dicing on their bonnets.

[creagdhubh]

Doubt I'm gonna be much help with this one, but as far as SOME Pipe & Drum bands go, the diced bonnets are SOMETIMES reserved for the drummers in the band while the pipers don't have the dicing on their bonnets.

Right. Which is why I tend to believe that it simply boils down to personal preference; i.e. - either a Balmoral or Glengarry with a plain or diced band. Same goes for the ribbon tails; either tied in a neat, little bow or left untied to blow in the wind. Though, I do think it's rather obvious that all Glengarries have their ribbon tails blowing in the wind! You can even get into all of the other aspects of Highland headwear, such as the colour, the cockade, the toorie and what type of badge to wear. Ultimately, it is your preference of what you like and what you don't like.

[OC Richard]

the diced bonnets are SOMETIMES reserved for the drummers in the band while the pipers don't have the dicing on their bonnets.

Yes this is following military tradition in the Highland regiments: army pipers wore plain Glengarries regardless of whether or not the rest of the regiment had dicing on theirs.

It varied by regiment, whether all the non-pipers of the regiment wore dicing or not.

Black Watch, Cameron Highlanders: no dicing. (In other words, these regiments entire, all members and all ranks, wore plain Glengarries.) The feather bonnets however had red/white/blue dicing. The pipers of the Black Watch were the only Highland regimental pipers to wear feather bonnets.

Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders: red/white dicing (like a red and white checkerboard pattern) on both Glengarries and feather bonnets. (Pipers plain Glengarries, did not wear feather bonnets.)

Gordon Highlanders, Seaforth Highlanders: red/white/green dicing on both Glengarries and feather bonnets. (Pipers plain Glengarries, did not wear feather bonnets.)

So you will see civilian pipe bands mimic this approach.

Here you can see two brothers in the same regiment, the piper with his plain Glen, the non-piper with his diced Glen.



The "no dicing for pipers' Glengarries" rule has a notable exception, and that is that many Police pipe bands have pipers and drummers alike wear Glengarries with the small black & white "Police dice". The smaller size of the Police dicing is especially noticeable on feather bonnets.