Davidson of Tulloch Blue?

[Geoff Withnell]

The Clan Davidson of America website shows a Davidson of Tulloch Blue tartan. It is not listed in STA. With the awesome resources available to you, what can the experts here tell me about it?

[figheadair]

Never seen it before and it's not in the STS (now STA) archive; so, an error perhaps? I guess the question to the webmaster is 'what's the source'? The so called Davidson Bride was designed as a personal tartan in the late 1990s so it's interesting to note that it now appears to be a general Davidson one. The name's a bit off and it would be better simply called Dress Davidson.

[Geoff Withnell]

Apparently it is from here: http://www.tartans.scotland.net/tart...tan_id=403.htm
The Scottish Tartans World Register.

I'm not putting a lot of faith in the webmaster's knowledge of tartan, since the website seems to think Davidson Modern and Davidson Ancient are different tartans.

[figheadair]

Apparently it is from here: http://www.tartans.scotland.net/tart...tan_id=403.htm
The Scottish Tartans World Register.

I'm not putting a lot of faith in the webmaster's knowledge of tartan, since the website seems to think Davidson Modern and Davidson Ancient are different tartans.

I know the webmaster and will enquire whether this is a bona fide sett or an IT error.

[ScottishStuart]

It is produced by House of Edgar as their colour variation on the Davidson of Tulloch: www.kiltmakers.com/tartan/search?name=davidson+of+tulloch

Perhaps just been named 'Blue' once somewhere and it has stuck?

[Geoff Withnell]

It is produced by House of Edgar as their colour variation on the Davidson of Tulloch: www.kiltmakers.com/tartan/search?name=davidson+of+tulloch

Perhaps just been named 'Blue' once somewhere and it has stuck?

Well, it looks to me like the large blocks of green behind the thin white stripe in the standard Davidson of Tulloch has been replaced by the same blue as is behind the thin red stripe. It's definitely a different sett. I wonder why it's not in STA? In any case, thank you for the info. I have a kilt in Davidson, and Davidson of Tulloch, and I sorta like the Blue. I may get one in that.

[figheadair]

According to the website owner the pattern came from the records of the late John McGregor-Hastie who was a tartan enthusiast active c1930-50. We, the STA have some of his samples so I will need to check them but my gut feeling is that this sett is the result of someone misrecording a very dark green as blue; it wouldn't be the first time such a thing has happened. If I'm right, then historically there is no such tartan which would explain the lack of its inclusion in the STS/STA archive. I guess that now that it is offered by the 'trade' we will have to add it, probably as a Modern Trade Error.

[ThistleDown]

Peter, can you more closely define STA's Modern Trade Error for us?

[figheadair]

Peter, can you more closely define STA's Modern Trade Error for us?

So, here's a piece of Davidson of Tulloch from the STA sample collection. It came from a sample book that was contemporary with McGregor-Hastie.



The hue of the green in the actual sample is very bluish, so much so that it could easily been mistaken for blue. My Trade Error comment refers to the fact that the commercial manufacturers, HOE in this case, have mistakenly copied this bluish green as blue and in doing so created an erroneous tartan that is not historically supported, i.e. there was no such thing as a Davidson of Tulloch Blue until sometime post 1980 until it was woven by mistake. This is similar to the development of the MacCorquodale tartan. Originally the family simply wore the Campbell of Cawdor but at some point a version of the sett with a bluish-green was rewoven with blue for green and so the MacCorquodale tartan was born. If it hadn't been connected with the family by their name it would no doubt have been offered by the modern trade as Campbell of Cawdor Blue

[Geoff Withnell]

Interestingly, it isn't HOE that is calling it Davidson of Tulloch Blue, but Clan Davidson Society, USA and Scottish Tartans World Register, whoever they are.