Tartan of the Month - January 12: what do you see?

**Silent Raven** · 16th January 12, 06:43 PM

Originally Posted by figheadair

TAKE COVER

The colours are definitely blue, green and black with red and yellow overstripes..

You can't spin, dye and weave either goat or horse hair to make traditional tartan. Some goat one can spin (cashmere) but horse?

yah... i clearly dont know much about fabrics, didnt think you could do much with the horse hair, other than sporrans. but i figured id ask....

**Orvis** · 16th January 12, 10:00 PM

"I very much doubt that this piece was fulled. The handle and binding of the threads indicates that it's a standard worsted piece. There are some other questions about the sett that if asked would clarify things further. "

Right, then it is a piece of hard, worsted tartan, produced in a non-mill environment. Is this a piece of tartan cloth woven for one of the early Highland or Fencible regiments, perhaps as a privates/musicians/pipers plaid?

Is this tartan (which bears a resemblance to the current MacDonnell of Glengarry) a tartan associated with/collected by Colonel Alasdair MacDonnell of Glengarry (although the tartan he wears in Raeburn's portrait clearly has a white stripe rather than a yellow one), perhaps one he collected, perhaps for the Highland Society of London's collection. Or is it an early military tartan, perhaps one associated with the Glengarry Fencibles? Or, is this a variation of the early 93rd Regiment (Gordon Highlanders) drummers plaid sett?

Incidentally, on p. 39 of Hugh Cheape's book, Tartan, there is illustrated a group of military tartans, including a sett (unidentified) that bears considerable resemblance to this month's tartan.

Thanks for this thread, Peter - it's causing me to go to references I haven't studied in quite some time!

**figheadair** · 17th January 12, 07:19 AM

Originally Posted by orvice

"I very much doubt that this piece was fulled. The handle and binding of the threads indicates that it's a standard worsted piece. There are some other questions about the sett that if asked would clarify things further. "

Right, then it is a piece of hard, worsted tartan, produced in a non-mill environment. Is this a piece of tartan cloth woven for one of the early Highland or Fencible regiments, perhaps as a privates/musicians/pipers plaid?

Yes to all but with the caveat that it could be sergeants' pr officers' weight at that time.

Is this tartan (which bears a resemblance to the current MacDonnell of Glengarry) a tartan associated with/collected by Colonel Alasdair MacDonnell of Glengarry (although the tartan he wears in Raeburn's portrait clearly has a white stripe rather than a yellow one), perhaps one he collected, perhaps for the Highland Society of London's collection. Or is it an early military tartan, perhaps one associated with the Glengarry Fencibles? Or, is this a variation of the early 93rd Regiment (Gordon Highlanders) drummers plaid sett?

Close, but look again at the sett. Can you not see the colours? What tartan?

Incidentally, on p. 39 of Hugh Cheape's book, Tartan, there is illustrated a group of military tartans, including a sett (unidentified) that bears considerable resemblance to this month's tartan.

Thanks for this thread, Peter - it's causing me to go to references I haven't studied in quite some time!

But it's not the same. Glad that you're enjoying these monthly teasers.

**figheadair** · 17th January 12, 07:24 AM

Originally Posted by Nick the DSM

Where is it from?

That's a fair question

. From the Highland Society of London's collection.

**Nick the DSM** · 17th January 12, 04:10 PM

Originally Posted by figheadair

That's a fair question

. From the Highland Society of London's collection.

Gotcha.

**Nick the DSM** · 31st January 12, 03:50 PM

Well, last day and it seems none of us have been able to come up with anymore guesses.

Wish studying didn't take up all my time, I'm sure I could have thought up of something.

**figheadair** · 1st February 12, 01:11 AM

Originally Posted by Nick the DSM

Well, last day and it seems none of us have been able to come up with anymore guesses.

Wish studying didn't take up all my time, I'm sure I could have thought up of something.

Yep, work can be very distracting. I've just about finished a paper on the Jan piece but am now away until the weekenk so I'll get it finished and posted on my site then. I'll also post something for Feb too.