balmoral

**macwilkin** · 16th December 07, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by sharpdressedscot

I think feathers may have been a sign of importance or ranking...aristocracy?

Feathers are worn by Chiefs & armigers (those who bear coats-of-arms). A feather bonnet is a piece of military headgear. CEF has done a nice job explaining its use.

T.

**sharpdressedscot** · 16th December 07, 12:28 PM

OK, I was close!

Do any balmorals come in all black?

**Woodsheal** · 16th December 07, 12:44 PM

If you're talking about the military,that was the time period of the Kilmarnock bonnet (hummel). Scroll to the bottom of this page:
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/bonnets.htm

Civilian bonnets were by-and-large knitted items - what we today call a "tam o' shanter" - and dark blue was the most popular color, though natural shades of grey and brown were not unknown. Today's "balmoral" is a later development....

**Daaaaang** · 18th December 07, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by sharpdressedscot

OK, I was close!

Do any balmorals come in all black?

Not usually. Black with a red toorie is the most traditional, and pretty much the only black balmoral you will find. However, Chef found one at J Byous Co, scroll about 2/3 down.

**gilmore** · 18th December 07, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by sharpdressedscot

OK, I was close!

Do any balmorals come in all black?

Yes, lots and lots. In fact if you do a websearch for Tartan Army pix, you will see few checked band balmorals and lots of black ones, although glengarries seem more popular.

See:

http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/bonnets.htm

http://www.pennys.ca/hats.php ($22.50 each)

http://www.kilts-n-stuff.com/Highlan...ries/hats.html

http://russetlodgeknits.blogspot.com.../label/bonnets

http://jas-townsend.com/product_info...roducts_id=250

You can also do a search on Ebay for all black balmorals in a variety of qualities.

**beloitpiper** · 18th December 07, 05:31 PM

Originally Posted by sharpdressedscot

OK, I was close!

Do any balmorals come in all black?

My pipe band (Irish) used to wear all black balmorals (well, caubeens), but we now wear all black glengarries.

**BoldHighlander** · 27th December 07, 04:55 AM

Being a student of the 18th century (& being involved with the recreated 84th Royal Highland Emigrants: 1777-1780) 'Indigo' (or dark Navy Blue) as mentioned is the proper colour.
You can still find alot of Navy Blue balmorals & glengarrys out there.
Some commercial ones look black, but when you hold them in natural sunlight you will notice a blueish hue to them.
J. Higgins has some nicely made & priced bal's & glen's.

If your interested, woad (sort of a light or light-greyish-blue) was popular during the 17th century (another era I'm interested in & am in the process of recreating a kit for).

Hope this helps!