Pre 1900 Tam's

[Troglodyte]

What were the pre 1900's Tam how were they made and from what material?

How pre-1900 do you want to go..?

Maxwell and Hutchison's excellent work on Scottish Costume for 300 years from 1550 is based on written accounts of the period, estate records, tailors' accounts and pictorial evidence, to present a valuable reference in terms of dress, fashion and style.

They record that between 1660 and 1707 - the Restoration until the Union of Parliaments - that 'The common headgear of the poorer classes was still the bonnet, either blue or russet, and showed no change from previous periods.'

I emphasise 'still' as it is significant, but this is the only historic reference I have come across that mentions a colour for the bonnet being other than blue - usually illustrated as a dark shade. To say 'still' shows that the use is continued from earlier times - ie, prior to 1660.

Bonnets were made in industrial quantities at certain centres around Scotland, and their regional styles varied somewhat, but knitted and felted wool was the practice then, as now.

Craigievar Castle has a spendid example of an early blue bonnet, with known provenance, and is civilian rather than the military version that was subject to regimental fashion and whim.

My picture is a curling club bonnet, made from marled yarn in club colours, which dates from early last century and there is nothing unusual about it otherwise. The other picture is of Highand school children from the late 1800s, and shows something of the variety in bonnets - no doubt home-made.

The density of the knit, the felting and so the form-holding of the bonnet gives the lie to the 'Outlander' theatrical style so favoured by dramatists and re-enactors. If authenticity is what you are after, theatrical and film costume is best avioded.

DSCF0670a.jpg DSCF0672a.jpg DSCF0679a.jpgLochlee curling club bonnet.jpg