Weathered/Reproduction Color Translations

[usonian]

Does anyone know of a comprehensive translation table for weathered tartan colorways? These are the ones I've seen while poking around seem to be:

Black -> Dark Grey
Blue -> Light bluish grey
Green -> greenish brown
Red -> Brick Red

I'm thinking about weaving my own weathered version of a tartan that has a prominent purple element, and wondering if anyone knows of good "weathered purple" example.

-Andy

[davidg]

The weathered tartans are readily obtainable from stock at Lochcarron (DC Dalgleish refers to them as Reproduction but stocks a far smaller range)

Lochcarron can provide swatches of tartan and they also sell weathered flashes in single colours. Either of these might be an option for you to get samples of the colours you are after

[figheadair]

Does anyone know of a comprehensive translation table for weathered tartan colorways? These are the ones I've seen while poking around seem to be:

Black -> Dark Grey
Blue -> Light bluish grey
Green -> greenish brown
Red -> Brick Red

I'm thinking about weaving my own weathered version of a tartan that has a prominent purple element, and wondering if anyone knows of good "weathered purple" example.

-Andy

As the whole idea is a trade invention it's a bit hit and miss. It would rather depend on what shade of purple you imagined starting from. Which tartan?

[davidg]

As the whole idea is a trade invention it's a bit hit and miss. It would rather depend on what shade of purple you imagined starting from. Which tartan?

In practice it shouldn't be too hit and miss. If I remember correctly DC Dalgleish started this by sampling old cloth and creating what they call authentic reproductions. Unfortunately they do not stock a large range of these tartans but they can weave to order. Lochcarron weathered colours pretty much follow Dalgleish colours so there is a consistency between them and Lochcarron have a vast stock range. I don't think any other mill uses these colours so hence the reason why they should not really be hit and miss

[M. A. C. Newsome]

But it is rather hit and miss, as the whole concept of "weathered" or "reproduction" colors is a loosely defined trade term. In other words, there is no official color list of what constitutes a "weathered" tartan look. It's an overall effect.

For a parallel example, I know the ancient Armstrong tartan woven by Lochcarron uses a much lighter blue color than the ancient Armstrong woven by House of Edgar. Yet they are both referred to as the ancient colors, and they are both notably lighter in shade than the modern tartan.

You will find a similar variation in the weathered/reproduction range. For example, I can spot the difference between a Lochcarron weathered tartan and a Dalgliesh reproduction tartan simply from the shade of red used.

Purple is not a very common color, and especially not one seen often in a weathered range. I know that Lochcarron does weave their purple Scotland Forever tartan in a weathered version, although you will not find a photo of it on their web site. We do have a swatch at the Scottish Tartans Museum. If you send them an email perhaps someone can scan it and email it to you. That way you can at least see what others have done.

Really though, it will be up to you ultimately. Select a shade of purple that looks very muted and faded to you, and then select other shades that will tone well together with that purple.

[usonian]

Thanks everyone, I didn't think there was anything "official" but was interested to see what others might have done. Matthew, thanks for the heads-up about the Scotland the Brave swatch at the museum, I may follow up on that!

figheadair, it's the Freemasons' Universal Tartan:



...and I got to thinking about a "weathered" version because I find the purple to be a little bit garish, although D.C. Dalgliesh does a very nice job with it:



The trick will be finding a purplish-mauvish-grey that doesn't look too peculiar or muddy.

[McClef]

Thanks everyone, I didn't think there was anything "official" but was interested to see what others might have done. Matthew, thanks for the heads-up about the Scotland the Brave swatch at the museum, I may follow up on that!

figheadair, it's the Freemasons' Universal Tartan:



...and I got to thinking about a "weathered" version because I find the purple to be a little bit garish, although D.C. Dalgliesh does a very nice job with it:



The trick will be finding a purplish-mauvish-grey that doesn't look too peculiar or muddy.

I should like to point out that there is no such thing as a "Universal" Masonic Tartan as no Grand Lodge has the power to impose such a choice upon any other.

The STA states:

This was commissioned by the Grand Lodge, Free & Accepted Masons of Utah for the use of all Masons worldwide. Designed by Anne Carroll Gilmour of Park City, Utah the colours relate to the various "Masonic organisations and appendant bodies." Woven by the Strathmore Woollen Company of Forfar.

And the Grand Lodge of Scotland makes its very clear as to why there is no such tartan on its own site - http://www.grandlodgescotland.com/in...=266&Itemid=29

Certainly it's a lovely tartan but no way is it official.

[usonian]

(apologies for the huge graphic - it's displayed much smaller on their web site)

McClef,

Yes - it was a bit presumptuous of the G.L. of Utah to call their tartan "Universal", and the G.L. of Scotland's response makes many good points.

I'm sure there was discussion about the designation of this tartan when it was first proposed... I like to think that it was designated 'universal' as a gesture of the universality of the fraternity. In absence of another tartan being officially adopted by my own lodge, district, or Grand Lodge I would wear it with pride.

If they had instead called it the 'Grand Lodge of Utah' tartan and designated it to be worn by Utah Masons only, it might have encouraged other jurisdictions to come up with their own. Ultimately, I suspect this is largely academic; I don't know how many people actually wear this tartan or pay the relatively expensive price for it, or any other hypothetical Grand Lodge tartan. (I've never seen it "in the wild".)

[Paul Henry]

just a note about the Dalgleish image, it is a computer generate one, not an actual photograph of the tartan, so the colours might still vary if you went with that colourway

[figheadair]

I can't see the need to weave this in weathered colours just because you don't like the commercial shades. If you're going to weave this yourself then just select some nice complimentary ble and purple hues that like. In the Dalgliesh image those shades are very like what wilsons would have used had they woven this tartan.