Historical Great Kilt

[figheadair]

Our Tartan historian Peter, tells us that there are simply no historical examples of what today is called a "Great kilt". None, not even in museums.

Steve, not quite, what I've said it that there are no complete surviving examples. There are quite a few pieces of what were likely to have been a Belted Plaid, mostly small pieces but the odd larger section survives. Probably the most complete example is a plaid that was cut in halved and used as curtain at Dunollie House, Oban. It is discussed here.

[OC Richard]

Here are Scottish Highlanders wearing the breacan-an-feilidh in 1631, serving as soldiers on the Continent, drawn by a German artist.



I would think that the artist had never seen such clothing, and it's nice that he took care to show the various ways it was worn.

Seems that the artist wasn't quite sure what he was seeing, either that or Highlanders would wrap their plaids around their legs as improvised trousers.

Such confusion about the structure of the breacan-an-feilidh continues to this day! Costumers for various modern films have evidently seen images of both the philamore, and the philabeg worn with separate plaid wrapped around the body. Not realising that they were seeing two distinct forms of dress, the costumers conflated them, devising the goofy garments worn in Rob Roy and Braveheart, essentially a little kilt with attached long plaid that goes diagonally across the body.