Full mask sporran: Yea or Nay?

[DrumMayer]

I'd like to ask again, does any one have clear documentation of the first usage of the animal mask sporran?

[OC Richard]

I'd like to ask again, does any one have clear documentation of the first usage of the animal mask sporran?

In just leafing through a couple books I have to hand, the earliest image I see is a nice watercolour of a sergeant of The Black Watch, 1790, wearing an animal mask sporran. It isn't a badger, but almost looks like a sheep!

As far as I know the 93rd Highlanders wore badger mask sporrans from their raising in the 1790's.

The earliest painting I see which clearly shows a badger mask sporran is The MacNab by Raeburn, which by the style of his jacket looks maybe c1810.

[Lallans]

I belong to a school of thought that states it's acceptable to kill an animal for the benefit of several or many humans but not acceptable to kill an animal for the sake of, for instance, my own vanity (eating, that would be different). I don't see women wearing fur stoles with the animal's heads showing any more and I support that. This is not something I would even consider imposing on anyone else and some FM sporrans are very nice- but not one I have ever seen for current sale however; I think the art has been lost.

[Mike_Oettle]

Canuck wrote: “I belong to a school of thought that states it’s acceptable to kill an animal for the benefit of several or many humans but not acceptable to kill an animal for the sake of, for instance, my own vanity . . .”

Well, I can assure you, the caracal was not killed for my benefit.
This species is routinely trapped as vermin, and the pelt that is coming to me came out of a trap.
Stock farmers and game farmers don’t go out looking for caracal, but they do all they can to discourage them from preying on their animals (livestock or wild buck).
Another common type of vermin here is the jackal.
Some years ago there was a major campaign against jackals, and hunters reported great success in exterminating them. The downside was that caracal became more rapacious than ever.
Scientists told us that a prime function of the jackal is to attack caracal litters and kill the kittens. If there are not enough jackals to do this, the outcome is stock loss.
The balance of nature is extremely delicate.
Regards,
Mike

[Lallans]

Canuck wrote: “I belong to a school of thought that states it’s acceptable to kill an animal for the benefit of several or many humans but not acceptable to kill an animal for the sake of, for instance, my own vanity . . .”

Well, I can assure you, the caracal was not killed for my benefit.
This species is routinely trapped as vermin, and the pelt that is coming to me came out of a trap.
Stock farmers and game farmers don’t go out looking for caracal, but they do all they can to discourage them from preying on their animals (livestock or wild buck).
Another common type of vermin here is the jackal.
Some years ago there was a major campaign against jackals, and hunters reported great success in exterminating them. The downside was that caracal became more rapacious than ever.
Scientists told us that a prime function of the jackal is to attack caracal litters and kill the kittens. If there are not enough jackals to do this, the outcome is stock loss.
The balance of nature is extremely delicate.
Regards,
Mike

Peace, Mike- absolutely no criticism of anyone was given and I didn't intend to convey anything but my personal view of the mask issue. Buddha knows that Canada is already hung up enough regarding wildlife matters, often by viciously selfrightous people who never venture outside the city unless via freeways that destroyed millions of hectares of animal habitat and who will try to kill you if you get in the way of their SUVs on your bicycle or at crosswalks.

Now THAT was a value judgement.

[OC Richard]

some FM sporrans are very nice- but not one I have ever seen for current sale however; I think the art has been lost.

I'm afraid that I can't agree with this, because L&M Highland Outfitters in Nova Scotia make badger sporrans of the highest quality, and in fact make military Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders badger sporrans which are identical in design and craftsmanship to the sporrans the regiment has worn since the 1790s.

I used to own an L&M A&SH badger sporran and I had a chance to compare it in person to a 19th century original and they were quite identical save for the type of badger: the original had the Scottish badger with the black & white face while the L&M had the North American badger with the brown & tan face.

[DrumMayer]

In just leafing through a couple books I have to hand, the earliest image I see is a nice watercolour of a sergeant of The Black Watch, 1790, wearing an animal mask sporran. It isn't a badger, but almost looks like a sheep!

As far as I know the 93rd Highlanders wore badger mask sporrans from their raising in the 1790's.

The earliest painting I see which clearly shows a badger mask sporran is The MacNab by Raeburn, which by the style of his jacket looks maybe c1810.

Do you have title/author/year/page references for these books? Is the Black Watch painting from 1790, or depicting 1790? You know us academics, always craving the minutia.

As the originator of this thread & poll, I'd like to make it clear I render no moral or ethical judgement on the issue one way of the other, as has been suggested by some posts above. I think that for informed kilt wearers, this is solely a matter of personal taste, sense of tradition, and function. As to the nature of the poll questions, I tried to make them as light-hearted as possible. Yet, longhuntr74's point is very well taken: just because I don't like the way they look doesn't mean I condemn you for wearing a full mask sporran. If you wish to look like you are birthing a badger , then good on you! Bottom line: wear what you like, like what you wear.