What's this pouch?

**figheadair** · 20th January 13, 01:25 AM

Originally Posted by Steve Ashton

It is where he keeps his laptop of course.

Surely he had a MacBook!

**TheOfficialBren** · 20th January 13, 03:34 AM

Based on the position of his hand and the angle at which it hangs I would say that it is a messenger bag. The strap may be hidden under his other gear OR may have been omitted for artistic purposes. I was more curious about the sporran worn with his trews. Very dashing man, whoever he was.

**Chas** · 20th January 13, 06:28 AM

I agree that it is a document pouch. At the time of the painting, it is possible that Gregor Macgregor of Glengyle was one of the 'Great Officers of State' and the pouch was his 'badge of rank', or symbol of his office as it were. Possibly, Chamberlain of Scotland? Like a judge might get his portrait painted wearing his robes or a Grand Master wearing his apron.

Regards

Chas

**figheadair** · 20th January 13, 06:29 AM

Originally Posted by TheOfficialBren

I was more curious about the sporran worn with his trews. Very dashing man, whoever he was.

Trews didn't have pockets so why wouldn't you use a sporran as was the practice throughout Europe in the Middle ages. Have a look again at the portrait of Fraser of Castleleathers. Now that's a sporran!

**neloon** · 20th January 13, 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by figheadair

Trews didn't have pockets so why would you use a sporran as was the practice throughout Europe in the Middle ages. Have a look again at the portrait of Fraser of Castleleathers. Now that's a sporran!

Did you mean "why would you NOT use a sporran "?

**creagdhubh** · 20th January 13, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by Steve Ashton

It is where he keeps his laptop of course.

***

Hahahaha!!!

**figheadair** · 21st January 13, 12:08 AM

Originally Posted by neloon

Did you mean "why would you NOT use a sporran "?

Indeed. Opps - sorted.

**TheOfficialBren** · 21st January 13, 12:32 AM

Originally Posted by figheadair

Trews didn't have pockets so why wouldn't you use a sporran as was the practice throughout Europe in the Middle ages. Have a look again at the portrait of Fraser of Castleleathers. Now that's a sporran!

Oh! Duh?! I had a bit of a brain fart there. It just threw me for a loop seeing p@nts with a sporran. I see many more kilts than trews so it was a bit jarring.

Thanks for connecting the dots for me on that one.

**MacRobert's Reply** · 21st January 13, 06:10 AM

I wonder if this is the Gregor MacGregor (there were a lot of them) who was a notorious swindler and confidence trickster, whose bond-market funds ran to £1.3m (about £3.6 billion in today's money). In which case we can guess what was in the document wallet! See the article in the Economist of 22 December 2012. This Gregor MacGregor was born in 1786 but the painting looks to be a bit too early to be him.