Soon to Arrive! Bespoke Kate Macpherson Head-on Pine Marten Sporran with Front Feet

[creagdhubh]

It's a beautiful silver-plated, goat hair sporran very similar to one that P/M John D. Burgess is wearing in the photo below:



If I didn't already have a wonderful Angora sporran made by our own Artificer I think I would snap it up! What a wonderful way to individualize your highland formal attire.

I have always loved this photo of the famous piper. Exceptional Highland evening dress; perfection in my book.

[NorCalPiper]

I can't wait to see your purchase! You're gonna look grand! Cheers

[creagdhubh]

I can't wait to see your purchase! You're gonna look grand! Cheers

Cheers, Josh!

[creagdhubh]

I do too. A white goat hair sporran, with no tassels, and with a bespoke cantle of some sort, from Kate Macpherson is definitely on my wish list.

Below are the bespoke cantles in which I speak of, made of hallmarked silver, and entirely by hand by expert engraver and Scottish armiger, Ian Grant of Edinburgh. Naturally, the cantles pictured below are meant for armigers, as they have a plain, silver shield ready to be engraved with the armiger's armorial bearings.

I love how the armiger's actual crest (or rank, if a peer - as shown in one of the cantle examples below) can be used at the top of the cantle, in place of the common finial. These cantles would look absolutely gorgeous with white goat hair and no tassels.

http://www.iangrantofedinburgh.com/en_cw.html





Cheers!

[creagdhubh]

David Lumsden of Cushnie, Baron of Cushnie-Lumsden, wearing a full-mask, red fox sporran with front feet (paws), made by Kate Macpherson (she informed me of Cushnie being one of her patrons a while back). I like how his rather sharp Argyll style day jacket doesn't look too big, as one often sees in the U.S. - it fits him perfectly. A very smart looking gentleman I must say. Sandy, there are those 'flesh' (oatmeal, fawn, and stone) coloured hose we discussed back in May, remember?

Cheers,

[JSFMACLJR]

David Lumsden of Cushnie, Baron of Cushnie-Lumsden, wearing a full-mask, red fox sporran with front feet (paws), made by Kate Macpherson. I like how his rather sharp Argyll style day jacket doesn't look too big, as one often sees in the U.S. - it fits him perfectly. A very smart looking gentleman I must say.

Cheers,

Cushnie was a very smart looking gentleman, as I am sure MacMillan of Rathdown will attest.

[creagdhubh]

Yes, I am quite sure Scott shall 'chime' in, Sandy. Does it appear the Cushnie's jacket buttons are made of leather (along the lines of a shawl sweater, or a cardigan with leather covered buttons), or do I have this observation of mine all wrong? I wonder what they are made of - quite nice...subtle and different. Note - Cushnie also chooses to leave the bottom button of his waistcoat, unbuttoned.

[Mike_Oettle]

Very nice indeed, Kyle! I look forward to the pictures.
I am quite taken with the idea of a full mask sporran with paws (fore and hind paws, perhaps?), but it would take some persuasion of my wife before I could get away with wearing it.
She doesn’t even like the idea of a full mask, so perhaps it is as well that the pelt I have does not include the cat’s face.
I will be sending instructions to the sporran maker shortly (sadly, it will not be Kate Macpherson).
Kate is a master craftswoman, and deserves the attention she gets from connoisseurs of Scottish dress.
I am also quite taken with the cantles with space for a coat of arms. Since I have started the process of registering my arms, I might look into one of those . . . when my ship comes in.
Regafds,
Mike

[creagdhubh]

Very nice indeed, Kyle! I look forward to the pictures.
I am quite taken with the idea of a full mask sporran with paws (fore and hind paws, perhaps?), but it would take some persuasion of my wife before I could get away with wearing it.
She doesn’t even like the idea of a full mask, so perhaps it is as well that the pelt I have does not include the cat’s face.
I will be sending instructions to the sporran maker shortly (sadly, it will not be Kate Macpherson).
Kate is a master craftswoman, and deserves the attention she gets from connoisseurs of Scottish dress.
I am also quite taken with the cantles with space for a coat of arms. Since I have started the process of registering my arms, I might look into one of those . . . when my ship comes in.
Regafds,
Mike

Thanks, Mike. Aye, it took a while for my wife, Stephanie to become accustomed to my full-mask sporrans, she thought they were rather disgusting at first, but now she understands. She is also very interested in Highland culture and customs, to include dress, so one could say that she is a very informed lady in most matters of the 'Highland nature.'

Ian Grant's bespoke cantles are lovely aren't they? Quite expensive, but naturally, these type of things are. Good luck with the process of registering your own arms - it is quite the exciting and rewarding process to say the least. In my humble opinion, it is one of the most special things a man can do in his lifetime.

On my pine marten sporran, the paws are indeed from the front of the animal. Hind legs wouldn't sit as flat on the front of the sporran due to their bone structure.

Cheers,

[SlackerDrummer]

Yes, I am quite sure Scott shall 'chime' in, Sandy. Does it appear the Cushnie's jacket buttons are made of leather (along the lines of a shawl sweater, or a cardigan with leather covered buttons), or do I have this observation of mine all wrong? I wonder what they are made of - quite nice...subtle and different. Note - Cushnie also chooses to leave the bottom button of his waistcoat, unbuttoned.

Your eyes do not deceive you, Kyle. Those are indeed braided leather buttons - a suggestion MoR has been advocating on this forum for a long time - and an excellent example of how nice they look on an Argyll jacket.