PCE Stuart v Stewart CE

[M. A. C. Newsome]

Here is how it was being woven by Wilsons of Bannockburn c. 1820-40.


They also had a version they called "Smallest Prince Charles."


You can compare that to their Royal Stewart.


Images from: http://resources.scottishtartans.org...e_gallery.html

If you can splurge, why not have one of these older setts woven by Dalgliesh in the Wilson colors, at the sett size you desire? Would make a handsome kilt!
Matt

[creagdhubh]

The reply form Dalgliesh was interesting and perhaps reflects the recent change of staff Please refer to the tartan register for any info on this fabric. I'm afraid I really am of no use to answer your questions.

Further investigation found it in the STA Db as #2382 where it is labelled Bonnie Prince Charlie (Fashion). The accompanying note says of it A sample of this tartan was sent to the Lord Lyon by the Hudson Bay Company of Canada who had received it labelled 'Bonny Prince Charlie'. Assumed to be Fashion.

Wow, that's quite the reply! This thread has been interesting to follow.

Cheers,

[mookien]

Thanks. That appears to be the one I "found" at Dalgliesh under the name PCE Stuart. I cannot tell for sure, because the Dalgliesh Tartan Library is unavailable at the moment. I cannot recall the bright blue stripes that are shown on the SRT, but I am probably just mis-remembering the Dalgliesh rendering. I'll check back later.

The Dalgliesh Tartan Library is back on line, but on the subject tartan - PCE Stuart, aka BPC Hudson Bay (STA #2382) you can only see the "modern" colors in the large window. If you click on "Ancient" or "Reproduction", you are shown some kind of code and traceback information. So, there is still a problem with that particular page.

There are indeed blue lines in the tartan, but in the modern colors they are Dalgliesh's darkest blue (Blue 20) and appear black on my screen.

[figheadair]

Since it's a tartan that the Prince himself supposedly wore I'm guessing that it's based on a relic somewhere? And is there a photo of this relic available?

The tartan comes from a pair of mid-C18th Trews said to have been worn by PCE that are/were on display in the West Highland Museum, Fort William. The only photo I know of is, if memory serves, in Telfer Dunbar's History of Highland Dress[/I]. Unfortunately I don't own a copy but will check in the STA Library tomorrow.

I saw the original pair some years ago but unfortunately didn’t have a camera with me. They are small by modern standards and would probably fit someone of slight build and about 5' 6" tall. I think PCE was taller and the alleged association will no doubt be based on family tradition without any direct evidence. In the world of old tartans there are a number of such examples. Often it's a case of old + romantic association = fact which it obviously doesn't. Regardless of who worn the originals the tartan is beautiful, the sett is small and the light blue is much paler that the Wilson examples posted.

The museum also has an old plaid (detail below) which again is said to have belonged to/was worn by PCE but is what we would now call Royal Stewart. Again, the light blue is very pale which was the case with blue used as a highlight in C18th tartans. I cannot think of one example where the modern mid-royal blue is used.

[Domehead]

I smell another essay