1860s sporrans: Highlanders of Scotland

[creagdhubh]

BTW there's an Atholl Highlander illustrated in The Highlanders Of Scotland.

His kit is much like the modern Atholl Highlander piper seen above, but the jacket facings are white, his sporran has a plain black leather cantle, his hose are plain brown, and he wears ordinary flashes.

I find it interesting when I come across sporran designs which I had hitherto only known from The Highlanders Of Scotland.

Just yesterday I came across this publicity shot of a mid-20th century piper wearing a sporran the cantle of which is somewhat similar to one seen in The Highlanders Of Scotland, having the sides drooping lower than one usually sees:





That piper's waistbelt and crossbelt hardware are made of sheet metal like the Victorian ones were, not cast like 20th century ones.

Yes, that Atholl Highlander was Donald MacBeath often known as "the Father of the Highlanders" - he also adorns the label of Old Jock, which is a wonderfuly delicious Scottish style Ale, brewed and bottled by Broughton Ales Limited in the Scottish Borders. Personally, I don't care for the 'sheet metal' look of the buckles and sporran cantle - too thin in my opinion.

The sign at Blair Atholl, featuring the famous Atholl Highlander.


Old Jock bottle label.


Yours aye,