Thoughts on this estate sale sporran?

[Bjørn]

I found this sporran at an online estate auction recently. Got it for a fair price. Have yet to pick it up or see it in the flesh. Any thoughts on possible age or maker?

[Hauge]

Does You have more pictures, more atop, as well as back side?
Any markings? Special details?

[Bjørn]

Does You have more pictures, more atop, as well as back side?
Any markings? Special details?

Unfortunately not. From what I've seen of that auction site, they often use the bare minimum of photos to make the sale. Case in point, I also gambled on a lovely blue jacket from the same sale, without knowing the size, knowing that if it doesn't fit I can always pass it on to someone who can use it.

I'll definitely post photos when I have it in my possession.

[plaid preacher]

So you were one of the guys I was bidding against!

I own a sporran that looks almost identical to this one - I doubt there will be a maker's stamp on the back, but it will say "made in Scotland". These sporrans were popular in the 1960s/70s, I do believe.

Did you win the bidding on the kilt and and jacket too?

[Bjørn]

So you were one of the guys I was bidding against!

I own a sporran that looks almost identical to this one - I doubt there will be a maker's stamp on the back, but it will say "made in Scotland". These sporrans were popular in the 1960s/70s, I do believe.

Did you win the bidding on the kilt and and jacket too?

Got the jacket. Gave up on the kilt, something about it looked off. Hopefully the jacket fits, if not I may offer it up to this community. Good to know others from here are scouting out the local auctions.

[OC Richard]

That pattern was in regular production from around 1930 until now, so it's hard to know.

Oftentimes the back of a sporran dates it better than the front: the style of leather belt-tab, the backing leather, a maker's stamp if any.

But that particular one, due to its apparent age, might be from the 1930s through the 1960s, without seeing the back.

If I had to make a guess I'd say it was by W. E. Scott & Son Edinburgh and dating around 1960.

Here are similar W. E. Scott & Son sporrans from an early 1970s catalogue, though the photo itself might come a decade or two earlier



Here's the gold oval Made In Scotland Real Leather stamp and pointy leather belt-tab as seen on W. E. Scott & Son Edinburgh sporrans from the 1950s through 1980s.



The lower stamp is an Edinburgh tailor, probably the retailer of that sporran rather than the maker

https://www.stewartchristie.com/

[Bjørn]

Thanks for the information. A relative who lives in the area the auction was located in picked it up today and sent photos.


The leather looks good, but there's a decent amount of wear on the seal front where the tassels rest. I'm pretty pleased with the state of it.

[OC Richard]

Looks great!!

Yes that looks like W. E. Scott & Son Edinburgh, perhaps 1960s give a decade leeway.

More recently they have stopped using that stamp, or indeed any stamp, instead using a sticker (!)

[Bjørn]

More recently they have stopped using that stamp, or indeed any stamp, instead using a sticker (!)

Stickers seem an odd choice in an age where it's increasingly meaningful to know the country of origin on things like highland wear.

[LoE]

I've learned that a good looking sporran is a like to have. A sporran with good hardware to secure it is a must have.

Almost all sporrans I see for sale use cheap securing hardware. Regardless of leather quality, stitching, or look. Which is a bad idea when one's wallet, keys, phone, and valuables are in it. I've learned from this.

Now my sporrans are secured with good hardware, or even preferably with belt loops first. The looks factor - though important - became secondary.

Just sharing lessons learned. Hope this helps.