Versatility of the Hunting Sporran.

[Dall_Piobaire]

I realize the proper use of the hunting sporran was, well, for just that; but, what are the prevalent attitudes towards using it as both dayware, and as a formal, almost full dress sporran.

Hair sporrans, to me anyway, look too much the military dres look, or band attire. There are some really sharp hunting sporrans, that just look too good for field and stram.


It just seems I could get more bang for my buck out of the one sporran for a couple of hundred than for three, for at least three times the amount?

[Bugbear]

Glad you asked this question; I have read often that normally a metal cantle and fur or hair body are on a formal sporran.
Full mask sporrans are used with daywear, as well as, formal evening attire, I think.

However, I would like to know, from those who know, which sporrans on this page from the Scottish Tartans museum are formal. I think Matt newsom has said a couple are, and several seem to fit what you are describing.
Ferguson Britt Sporrans

I've been pondering the "Glengyle Fancy Fur" for a long time now, but it does not have a metal cantle. I think there was another on that page that has the same fur options.

And what about sterling silver bead work on a leather cantle, does that change it's status?

[heilanner]

wow. erm, i wouldn't class any of those as 'dress' sporrans. i'd stick to these rules -

Day sporrans
Semi-dress sporrans
Dress sporrans

although in saying that, i have worn my walnut leather day sporran to a wedding and the subsequent meal and party afterward (although with a Lovat green tweed argyle). most people will just have and wear the one sporran, so the trick is to find one that you can wear with everything for every occasion.

it's true that horse-hair sporrans are very piper-ish and regimental, but it doesn't stop me craving one and as soon as i can find a decent one for under £200 i'm buying it.



as for Dall's original question about a 'hunting' sporran... i have no idea what a hunting sporran is. i'm sure if you post a pic or a link so people can see it they'll tell you if it's suitable for formal occasions.

[Bugbear]

I don't know; I'm just going by the descriptions. He was wanting a single sporran for daywear and formal.

This is what made me think of those sporrans, from that page I linked to, "These historically inspired sporrans are not only perfect for re-enacting, but also for modern-day Highland attire, both day wear
and formal."

I think Matt Newsome said the "Duin uasal," on that page, is the only sporran you need or something like that. In other words that it would work as a formal or a daywear sporran, but I might be thinking of the wrong sporran.

They do have hunting sporrans in a couple of other sections of the STM site.

* I don't know enough about it, so I'm bowing out of this one. *

[M. A. C. Newsome]

A few points.

First, pictures are worth a thousand words. What is typically called a "hunting sporran" is one that has this general shape and construction.


As far as I am aware, the name is not meant to imply that these sporrans are properly to be worn while engaging in hunting, anymore than "hunting" tartans are only supposed to be worn hunting. It's just a fancy name.

(This style seems to be especially popular among pipe bands, by the way.)

That being said, some hunting style sporrans are more suited to daywear (like the one I pictured above), and others more suited to semi-dress or evening. It all depends on the details. The one above is all brown leather, and so more suited to day wear. A similar style with black leather and a silver-toned cantle would look very sharp worn with a black Argyle for dressier occasions.


And while not really a full evening sporran, I don't think it would look all that bad with black tie in a pinch.

As for the Ferguson Britt sporrans, you'll notice that some of them have a somewhat similar shape to these modern "hunting" sporrans, such as this Duin Uasail model.


Indeed, this is the one (in black deer hide) of which I said it could be the "one sporran you ever own." I make that claim both because of the quality of the craftsmanship (it will last forever if you take care of it), but also because of its versatility. It is simple enough that it can be worn for daywear (no fur, no metal), yet elegant enough that it can also be worn for more dressy occasions.

A few illustrations. Here is that same model sporran (Duin Uasail in black leather) worn by the groom at his wedding:


Here I am wearing a different Ferguson Britt model (Glengyle in skunk fur) at a Burns Dinner.


Contrast that with this familiar looking guy wearing a muskrat fur Glyngyle for daywear.


Obviously not all the Ferguson Britt sporrans will be suitable for formal wear, just like not all hunting style sporrans will be suitable for formal wear. A lot depends upon the details of that particular sporran.

But if you are looking for one sporran that you can make work with a range of casual to formal attire, a well-made, historically inspired line, like the Duin Uasail or a similar style, made from black leather, is a good choice.

[heilanner]

well judging by those pics, then a hunting sporran would be fine but it would depend on what you're wearing with it. if you opt for a Lovat tweed Argyle the brown one will be fine even for evening wear (yes, a tweed jacket and brown sporran for evening wear! this whole black barathea or charcoal tweed is relatively new. the original was the green or blue tweed).

if you opt for the black jacket then i'd got for the black, metal topped one. i have actually seen that style of sporran given out as part of hire packages here in Aberdeen. in fact my dad got one almost identical to the one pictured with his hire outfit last weekend but decided it was too dressy and borrowed one of my plain ones instead.

[McMurdo]

Further to what Matt has said above, thanks for using me as an example Matt, here are a few photos to illustrate the versatility of the hunting type sporran. When I first started wearing the kilt I had my dads old kilt and sporran made in 1950 from A&J Scott and co. Aberdeen. The sporran is a plain brown daywear sporran. Burns Night came around and I felt I needed a dressier sporran so I got a hunting type sporran with a chrome cantle. here is the picture all decked out with the Prince Charlie.

Now though I would not wear the outfit exactly that way now it does illustrate that a hunting style sporran could work for black tie. I've since given the sporran away.

As for the hunting style sporran from Ferguson Britt I have two of them the Brown Muskrat shown by Matt and a Black Leather with Skunk fur. I find the black one to be about the most versatile sporran I own, I do not wear it for Black Tie events only because I also have a Sealskin sporran but I think I could if I needed to as it is I've worn it with everything from a T-Shirt to Smart Daywear.








I think if I needed or wanted to I could use this sporran with the Prince Charlie or even the Montrose for a more formal outfit. One day I'll try it and post photos.

As for the brown muskrat I normally wear it like Matt has shown with a Day wear outfit

[george7]

Definitely day wear... but stylish.

[Dall_Piobaire]

Lookin sharp there MacMurdo!

Thanks Matt, I hoped you would show up!

Now, here is what I was told by my Grandfather, and uncles, all trads, all Boyds, well, of course. The hunting kilt was usually in a earthy colour for a camo effect, and was not to be worn as the formal "dress", but for shooting or hunting. I don't know about the Sporran, per se, as they mostly had either hair or fur, or just plain leather.

Now, I am a piper, and once truly back into the swing of things, will be in competetion, and, hopefully, working proffessionally. I want to portray I respectable prefessional look, and one that also honours my family. I would wear hair, goat or horse, but not fur. So, that leaves me in leather.

Really the big issue is that when people hire a piper they higher the look as well, even if they only have a romanticized idea of what that look is!.

I could be wrong here, just my thoughts, but, as helpful as the old sketches and photos are, aren't they all really posed for? In other words, and with the nature of early photography in mind, wouldn't one trot out the best he had to offer for such an occasion.

Just my thoughts, I am by no means any authority! But I do value the opinions and thoughts of those here. After all when we were the kilt we represent each other as well as the certain spirit of a treasured heritage.

[McMurdo]

Dall
Why not take a look through the Vintage thread, sure some of the photos are posed but others are not.
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...316/index.html