Campbell tartans

[M. A. C. Newsome]

This was originally in the "Ethics" thread, but since it's turned into a discussion of the Campbell tartans, i thought I would move it here.

Jame wrote:
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So very true Matt.....I believe that previous Dukes have said the same thing.

However, I am somewhat 'confused' about the American perceived difference between 'Black Watch' and the plain (or Ancient) 'Campbell' tartans.

Very often descriptions or illustrations of these two tartans seem to be misnamed and or reversed.

i.e. the Ancient Campbell being referred to as Ancient Black Watch or just Black Watch and vice versa.

The two tartans have separate identities and histories and are inextricably linked. The history being well documented. Ancient Campbell is not Black Watch.

The setts are the same but in the case of Black Watch, the colours are much darker

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James,

You might want to take a look at an article I recently put together about tartan colors here:
http://albanach.org/colors.html

I even use the Black Watch/Campbell tartan as an example. Also, an article I had publsihed recently in The Scottish Banner (not yet on my web site) dealt with the fact that in many cases the same tartan goes by different names.

In the case of the Black Watch, it is also called Campbell, Hunting Grant, Hunting Munro, Sutherland District, 42nd, and Government sett. All of these names refer to the exact same tartan with no real difference.

In short, the modern Black Watch is the exact same as the modern Campbell. The ancient Campbell is the exact same as the ancient Black Watch.

The proper names of this tartan (Black Watch, Campbell, etc), refer to the general pattern. Any kind of qualifying term like "ancient" or "modern" or "weathered," "muted," etc., refer to the specific shades of colors that particular cloth is produced in.

Saying that this tartan in the ancient colors is Campbell, but in the modern colors is Black Watch, simply is not accurate. They are both Campbell and Black Watch (and Hunting Grant, Hunting Munro, Sutherland District, et al).

M

[pdcorlis]

Thanks M.A.C.

You are a great source for this happy little band of kilt wearers. This article - like the others on your site should be required reading for anyone interested in the "straight dope" on kilts! Very informative.

[Rampant Lion]

Awesome M.A.C.,

I was actually considering asking you about this directly when I found this thread answered my question. I had always believed that the Campbell, Black Watch, Hunting Grant, etc. were the same tartan. But a few weeks ago I was at a Highland Games where I stopped by the Clan Campbell tent where I was told that the Campbell and Black Watch were different and the reasoning behind it was because of the colours being lighter or darker. The person at the tent wasn't trying to be beligerant, they actually very nice and took the time to look up the two (acutally one) tartan in a couple books they had there.

Now I have no doubts that the Hunting Grant in ancients colours is just as "Grant" as it is in modern colours. I eventually want to get a Ancient Hunting Grant kilt. Something a little more subdued than my Modern Grant.

William

[O'Neille]

Thank you again for a great lesson. If there were degrees offered in Tartanmanship you'd be there with honors. O'Neille

[Cawdorian]

The present Duke of Argyll (the Clan Chief) recognizes the same Campbell tartans as his father. They are the Ancient Campbell, Campbell of Cawdor, Campbell of Breadalbane and Campbell of Loudon, these are the only four Campbell tartans recognized by the Clan Chief. The Campbell of Argyll tartan and several others are not recognized by the Clan Chief.

The Ancient Campbell tartan is a lighter colored version of the traditional Blackwatch tartan. The sett (pattern) and the colors are the same.

[turpin]

check out the Clan Campbell Society of North America site.

http://www.ccsna.org/jsep50a.htm

It's one of the most complete I've seen. I recently discovered a Campbell connection. Sort of too bad that the Campbell and Gordon Moderns are so similar. But there's a reason, which is that the Black Watch was the base tartan for the Highland Regiments, and the Gordons and Campbells were the Regiments raised earliest.