I have an older dress sporran that was made in the 1920's which has a silver cantle and three long black tassels that has the same look as a horsehair sporran, but is made with the somewhat finer textured goat's hair which is not as stiff. I believe these were very much the standard for full formal dress well into the 1930's when the smaller sealskin sporrans began to overtake them in popularity; which isn't to say that the long goathair sporrans are no longer worn, as I wear mine occassionally and have seen other do likewise on more formal occassions. I think they add a great deal of elegance to the overall look, as well as variety when not everyone wears one.
Bookmarks