Penannular brooch size?

[Kriegbert]

I have been looking to use a penannular brooch for my fly plaid, but have noticed they come in many size. What diameter looks best?

[OC Richard]

I suppose what diameter looks best is a pure matter of opinion.

Using a Penannular brooch as a plaid brooch isn't part of traditional Highland Dress, so there's no tradition to look back on for guidance.

What we can do is look at the traditional range of sizes for actual plaid brooches, which were designed and made expressly for the purpose of pinning a plaid at the shoulder.

Here are some Victorian civilian plaid brooches



In the military, the smallest ones as far as I know are the ones that used to be worn by the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders and the Cameron Highlanders

[Steve Ashton]

You could try this one from The British Museum.

[figheadair]

As OC Richard said, there is no tradition of wearing a penannular brooch with a Fly Plaid which itself is a modern invention. Personally, I would wear neither.

[Kriegbert]

You could try this one from The British Museum.

Fee fi fo fum! did you get to meet the giant slayer who took that trophy off the slain giant?

[OC Richard]

You could try this one from The British Museum.

Wow it makes one wonder, doesn't it, what sort of outfit that was worn with?

Or if it was worn at all, or expressly made as grave-goods.