[Semiomniscient]

Originally Posted by wildrover

Don't take this the wrong way, but the tassel tails make me think "ferret", not "ermine", and ferrets...well...yeah, no. Probably if you were wearing it in a context where people were likely to recognize ermine, and ferrets were not so ubiquitous in pet stores...

All white would probably work, tho...

Haha, I didn't read your post before I put mine. I must say that I never think "ferret" in the context of wearing furs. Perhaps the metal parts of the tassels could have been forgone to have the entire ermine tail?

[JSFMACLJR]

Originally Posted by wildrover

Don't take this the wrong way, but the tassel tails make me think "ferret", not "ermine", and ferrets...well...yeah, no. Probably if you were wearing it in a context where people were likely to recognize ermine, and ferrets were not so ubiquitous in pet stores...

All white would probably work, tho...

Are you saying that because some people consider ferrets "pets" that they are inappropriate for any other use?

[wildrover]

Originally Posted by JSFMACLJR

Are you saying that because some people consider ferrets "pets" that they are inappropriate for any other use?

Nope, I'm saying that ferrets in most contexts in which I encounter them are cheap, stinky, and much more common than ermine, and I'm pretty sure those thoughts are not what Semi-O wants coming to mind in the context of a fur dress sporran.

I thought it was cool, using the tails like that. Unfortunately, I can't shake the "ferret" connection when I see the dark tips, and that's why I suggested monochrome tails as an alternative. They're all mustelids, and I've seen white ferrets, so I have to assume that there are ermine without dark-tipped tails as well...tho the pelt may command a higher price. All-white tails are a rarity...without the dark tip, I don't think "ferret" would have even occurred to me.

It would probably also work great if the tip were reddish. How effectively/permanently can fur be dyed?

-Sean

[Semiomniscient]

Originally Posted by wildrover

Nope, I'm saying that ferrets in most contexts in which I encounter them are cheap, stinky, and much more common than ermine, and I'm pretty sure those thoughts are not what Semi-O wants coming to mind in the context of a fur dress sporran.

I thought it was cool, using the tails like that. Unfortunately, I can't shake the "ferret" connection when I see the dark tips, and that's why I suggested monochrome tails as an alternative. They're all mustelids, and I've seen white ferrets, so I have to assume that there are ermine without dark-tipped tails as well...tho the pelt may command a higher price. All-white tails are a rarity...without the dark tip, I don't think "ferret" would have even occurred to me.

It would probably also work great if the tip were reddish. How effectively/permanently can fur be dyed?

-Sean

The classic look of ermine tails are dark tips. Anything else would be to remove the most distinguishing factor of ermine. (I actually don't know if ermine even have all white tails anyway.) And I certainly couldn't see myself dying ermine furs! I've already got pelts anyway, and they all have the same kind of tails with the dark tips.
Honestly, the Victorian sporran is probably the best silver-cantle evening sporran I've ever seen. I really don't think ferret. But I've never owned one. But I suppose I can see why you think using ferrets would be undisirable. But I can't really compare ermine to it even though they are so closely related.