Clan badge mystery ...

[OC Richard]

The Glasgow-based manufacturer and retailer, St Kilda Store do a good line in clan badges -

https://stkildastore.com/Clan-Items/Clan-Badges

Yes the middle and right-hand ones are cast using the old Carrick moulds, Carrick's large badges (50mm).

Carrick also did small badges (40mm) in an old style which goes back at least to the early 20th century, evidently using old moulds, perhaps the old Ebbutt moulds.

In most cases Pipe Bands wore the large Carrick badges on Glengarries, while the small Carrick badges were normally worn on Balmorals.

The left-hand badge is AFAIK Gaelic Themes' original design. Gaelic Themes is largely aimed at Pipe Band custom so the large size (47mm) makes sense.

The large and small Carrick badges in situ

[OC Richard]

Attachment 40591

I threw together this collage showing a number of different firms making this style badge.

It's almost as if they're using the same moulds, or making casts from each other.

Look at these features cropping up repeatedly (though sometimes they disappear on individual badges in the same range)

-to the left of the vertical portion of the strap, two grommets, the right-most one placed low.

-to the right of the vertical portion of the strap, two grommets.

-oval buckle with interior lunettes top and bottom.

-distinctive chape, with vertical oval bit.

These are:

Thomas Ebbutt 1958_____no name said to be 1950s_____R G Lawrie no date

Peter Henderson no date_____Carrick no date____Carrick no date



Thomas Kerr Ebbutt, St David's Square, Edinburgh 1900-1977 (sold to Hamilton & Inches)

R G Lawrie and Peter Henderson were Glasgow pipemakers, established in the late 19th century, who made and hallmarked their own silver bagpipe mounts, and also make a range of "Highland ornaments".
RGL hallmark 1908
PH hallmark 1920

Carrick Jewellery 1971-c2005 (sold to St Kilda Group AKA Gaelic Themes)

[ktk1961]

I threw together this collage showing a number of different firms making this style badge.

It's almost as if they're using the same moulds, or making casts from each other.

Look at these features cropping up repeatedly (though sometimes they disappear on individual badges in the same range)

-to the left of the vertical portion of the strap, two grommets, the right-most one placed low.

-to the right of the vertical portion of the strap, two grommets.

-oval buckle with interior lunettes top and bottom.

-distinctive chape, with vertical oval bit.

These are:

Thomas Ebbutt 1958_____no name said to be 1950s_____R G Lawrie no date

Peter Henderson no date_____Carrick no date____Carrick no date



Thomas Kerr Ebbutt, St David's Square, Edinburgh 1900-1977 (sold to Hamilton & Inches)

R G Lawrie and Peter Henderson were Glasgow pipemakers, established in the late 19th century, who made and hallmarked their own silver bagpipe mounts, and also make a range of "Highland ornaments".
RGL hallmark 1908
PH hallmark 1920

Carrick Jewellery 1971-c2005 (sold to St Kilda Group AKA Gaelic Themes)

Fascinating! Thank you so much for sharing all of this ...

[ktk1961]

The Glasgow-based manufacturer and retailer, St Kilda Store do a good line in clan badges -

https://stkildastore.com/Clan-Items/Clan-Badges

They will also silver-plate pewter items for a nominal fee, so there is always that option...

Thanks for the tip. My jeweler could also do it. But I think I prefer the authenticity and patina of the original material ... even if it isn't of the highest quality.

[Steve Ashton]

Just a note of interest.

The belt and buckle design use by Gaelic Themes, aka St. Kilda Group, was designed specifically for The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs via Gaelic Themes.

This design is under copyright to Gaelic Themes and it would be a copyright violation to reproduce this design even though you see people using it all the time. It may be the most copied crest design as you can pull images off the web with impunity.

The X Marks Cap Badge and Crest uses the Gaelic Themes design with their kind permission.

[DCampbell16B]

Thanks for the tip. My jeweler could also do it. But I think I prefer the authenticity and patina of the original material ... even if it isn't of the highest quality.

I think you have a very high quality badge. But it is not made of expensive metal.

[OC Richard]

There's a wonky error in the design at lower right.

The reality behind all the various metal badges is of a belt, buckled, with the end of the belt coming through the buckle and passing underneath the belt on the right, then coming upward on the reverse side, coming forward over the top, then going downward in front. The end of the belt can pass through the loop, or pass over top. The tip of the belt has an ornamental chape.

On that X Marks badge the belt, after passing through the buckle, ENDS instead of passing round behind.

If it ends there, where is the rest of it coming from?

It's as if the jeweller didn't know the physical 3D reality of the thing.