African sporrans

[OC Richard]

At our local Games over the weekend I saw a range of sporrans completely new to me.

They're made in Africa (RSA).

I am told that the same maker makes all the cantles as well as the leather & hide work.

In person the Wildebeest fur looks quite like sealskin.

So nice to see several traditional-looking cantles. The one with five bosses looks right out of the Highland Revival period!

http://www.afrocelticsporrans.com/mix-and-match.htm

[kingandrew]

Richard,

Their "chain pattern day sporran" looks very similar to some of the sporrans posted in your 1920s-30s sporran thread.

The designs are certainly striking and seem to be done with care. I can only imagine the splash one would make wearing a zebra sporran to the local Games.

Very interesting indeed.

Andrew

[Queenslander]

I've been looking at their sporrans for a while, especially the Zebra. They seem very reasonably priced also.

[tpa]

At our local Games over the weekend I saw a range of sporrans completely new to me. They're made in Africa (RSA).
http://www.afrocelticsporrans.com/mix-and-match.htm

Thank you for that link, they make interesting and attractive additions to the usual ranges of formal sporrans.

Unfortunately, I have so little opportunity to wear a formal sporran, I cannot justify any more than the one I have.

[Holcombe Thomas]

I don't need one, but I certainly want one. Or two.

Holcombe

[OC Richard]

Yes those cantles are very nice, some very trad-looking, some with a modern twist.

And the furs are certainly interesting and novel (to us non-Africans!)

I examined and handled a number of these sporrans, and the cantles are heavy high-quality castings, the leather sturdy and well-stitched. I would imagine that they would stand up well to decades of regular use.

There is one thing that I don't care for, and which flies in the face of traditional "Evening" sporrans:

The edging piece of a fur-fronted Evening sporran is traditionally matching fur, not exposed plain leather.

The plain leather makes these sporrans look not quite like Evening sporrans, though they have the silver cantle, fur front, and fur tassels with silver balls & chains like Evening sporrans.

Here: overall a nice traditional Evening sporran (I love the high Victorian/Edwardian style cantle) but edged in plain leather:



Note the matching fur edging/sides on these vintage Evening sporrans:





Were I to inquire about ordering an "Afro-Celt" sporran, I would ask about adding fur to the sides.

About some of their cantles, usually 'modern twists' on traditional things don't do much for me, but this cantle is lovely esp with the red backing (which can be seen on a couple of the vintage sporrans above)

[Benning Boy]

I'm building a collection of sporrans made of critters that inhabit the great plains, and avoiding furs and leather of Scottish origin. However, I can see adding something obviously African just for something really different. Thanks for posting the link.

[Jock Scot]

I recall seeing the late Duke of Atholl in civilian kilt attire, wearing what looked like a Zebra sporran and I have seen a picture of one of his sons wearing a similar(the same?)sporran. As the Late Duke was a South African I suppose its not surprising. I have to say it looked pretty damned good, although that style is not for me.

[jhockin]

Are the candles full, hinged candles ( like the MOD cantles), or just decoration, on the outer face of the sporran?

[SimplyStuart]

Alot of those are really nice, I wish I could justify getting one!