Historical Curiosity question

[Casey_in_Carolina]

My uncle has been taking some training as a blacksmith, which has peaked not only my interest, but also my curiosity. With me interest in kilts, I'm curious now if anyone might know what the blacksmiths of old in Scotland might have worn.

If my understanding is correct, traditionally blacksmiths where an apron of thick, stout leather that comes to about mid-thigh, to protect them from sparks coming from their work. This would have left a significant portion of the kilt exposed to jumping sparks. So I'm curious as to what the blacksmiths of Scotland would have done. Would they have worn a longer apron that came down past the knees to protect both the kilt, and bare skin beneath it? Would they have worn some sort of long, leather sheath/skirt over the kilt, or in place of the kilt? Would they have forsaken the kilt during work, and worn leather breeches as any other blacksmith might have?

Does anyone have any ideas? Inquiring minds would like to know


Casey

[sharpdressedscot]

Doesn't wool have a natural fire-proofness or something??

Maybe they had a longer apron, I don't really know.

[Dr Mac]

Good question... will wait for more historically-informed folk to respond...

[TheKiltedWonder]

Doesn't wool have a natural fire-proofness or something??

Maybe they had a longer apron, I don't really know.

Wool tends to smolder if the flame is held directly to it and it doesn't catch on fire like other cloths might.

I suppose we're making some assumptions though: that said blacksmith is a highlander and living at an appropriate time when there were kilts and that said blacksmith, even if he were a highlander, wore kilts instead of pants. I don't know about these things, so I defer to those who are better informed

[Nighthawk]

The blacksmith in my living history group wears trews and a leather apron. Check out this video. http://www.kidk.com/news/27063919.html About 1/4 of the way though, there is a fairly long spot on us. You can see Cliff doing his blacksmithing thing, among the other key members of the group (including a sword fight- we sometimes question weather Danny and Curt are reenacting, or actually trying to kill each other!) Just click the VIDEO link.

[The Wizard of BC]

I'm sorry but by the best Historical evidence we have some one skilled as a blacksmith would probably not have worn The Kilt.

The Kilt, as we know it today, was only developed in the late 1700's, about the time of the American Revolution. According to evidence only the nobility and ruling class wore it. And then only as court wear.

As soon as the Kilt was adopted as a part of a Military uniform It was found only there.

There is no evidence the average person could or would have worn it.

The older form of Kilt, what today we call the Great Kilt or Belted Plaid was also probably not worn by the average Scotsman. It was probably only worn by the poorest, most rural people of the far NW mountains. What today we would liken to hillbillies.

So what started as "Poor Man's Clothing" is later romanticized, changed, and adopted by the nobility because they thought anything "Older and simpler" was more "Noble and purer". Then later the Kilt was seen through these romanticized eyes as being useful as recruiting propaganda.

I don't expect everyone to believe me on this, because there is just so much myth and romance wrapped up around everything Scottish, but according to the best research we have, it is true.

[Bugbear]

Does that mean I can wear my hillbilly clothes for white tie?

I wouldn't dare wear a belted plaid around a blacksmith's work area. There's just too much fabric hanging all over the place.

For ceramics, I wear my cotton Buzz Kidder around the kilns, but I don't think I would wear a wool kilt there; especially not around the raku area.

BTW, Rayon melts into a fine film and becomes one with the skin if you open a heated raku kiln near by... Just thought you might want to know.

[Howard Clark]

I'd tend to think Steve is right about this, historically. But, I can tell you, a modern kilt (tailored and any pleating style) works fine in the blacksmith shop as work wear. I do it every day, precisely because it works well. And wool is pretty naturally fire resistant, when it comes to hot mill scale landing on it. I did burn up a 10 oz. wool kilt at the bottom edge of one pleat because I was standing too long, too near, a large hot mass. I did not notice until the burning hair smell got really intense, due to the nature of the work at hand (arc welding). It is not totally ruined for work wear, because of the location of the burn, but it was a valuable lesson for me.

Cotton canvas works well in the shop also.

[Cassidy]

Wizard's got it right, but Howard Clark also has a point. I worked out at a living history museum for seven years, and in all the blacksmithing I did I'd imagine the only true threat to a kilt in the shop would be the terrible amount of coal dust and general grime that would coat it eventually.

[davedove]

If there was a blacksmith wearing a great kilt, and there were probably a few that did, I could see him taking it off if he were worried about it catching sparks. Traditionally, a long tailed shirt was worn under it and that would be enough to preserve modesty. The leather apron would have been worn over that. Since he's working at the forge, I doubt if he would be too concerned about being cold. When he was ready to leave the forge, he could put the great kilt back on.

After the era of the great kilt, the blacksmith probably wore trousers.