Tobacco Highlander - which regiment?

[figheadair]

An interesting Tobacco Highlander which is on display in Cawdor Castle. Interesting choice of tartan – Wilsons’ No.203 or Argyll (aka Campbell of Cawdor) which was never worn by any regiment so far as I’m away. Not sure what unit(s) the rest of the uniform is based on, 92nd or simply a bit of everything to give the impression of a Highland Officer?

[Andy Proffitt]

Very neat. The store that used them in profusion was Charles Rattray of Perth, along with Highland maidens, the standard Indian Chief and Jack Tar figures. Early pics of the store showed full size sidewalk models, figures adorning the facade and counter-top figures. John Cotton also had a few in their Princes St. shop in Edinburgh. Of course, both shops ceased retail operations in the '70s or '80s.

[figheadair]

I remember Rattray's in Perth well. A lovely building which regretfully was lost in the architectural horror that is the St. John's Centre.

[Mike S]

His uniform is the type worn just before and during the Napoleonic wars. It looks to be an assemblage of differing regiments as far as distinctions. Since the 91st, 92nd, and 93rd regiments all had yellow facings, and he has blue facings as found with the 42nd and other so-called "Royal" regiments, it eliminates the 92nd from the mix.

The sporran and hose are reminiscent of the sort worn by the 93rd, superficially.

As far as officer vs. enlisted, white laced regiments "usually", but not always, called for silver metallic lace for the officers, and yellow prescribed gold.

The seeming metallic lace on his uniform, more ornate sporran, jabot and neck cloth vs. plain neck stock, epaulettes, and hose with buckle shoes sans gaiters would indicate that he is supposed to be an officer.

[figheadair]

He also wears a gorget which I take to represent an officer inconjunction with the shoes etc. It's possible of course that he represents a Fencible Officer. We know far less about these non-Line Regiments.

[Mike S]

True, however some senior NCOs also wore a gorget.

[OC Richard]

I know we usually associate animal-mask sporrans with the 93rd, yet there's a late-18th century watercolour of a Black Watch sergeant wearing one, hard to tell the beast, perhaps a lamb?

[Steve Ashton]

I'd be more inclined to say you all may be over thinking this. It's an advertising thing. To expect it to be historically accurate would, to me, be about like looking at an American cigar store Indian and arguing over what tribe he belonged to.

It is quite common in advertising - even then - to give a rough representation or to mix and match what ever looks good to the carver. The idea in advertising is to draw the eye, to peak curiosity and of course to make what the store sells appear more desirable.

All while avoiding controversy. If this were a completely accurate representation of a uniform people could assume that the store was implying that they were the regimental kiltmakers to that unit. Much like the comments we hear here when a website of some kiltmaker shows a pic of a pipe band and they are not actually the makers of that band's uniforms.

And speaking of lamb sporrans - - - I've always wanted to make a sporran from a Serta Counting sheep - - - With a really surprised look on his face.

[BobsYourUncle]

The Campbell of Cawdor tartan was worn by the 91st beginning in 1864, when they finally regained Highland status as a regiment. The 91st lost its Highland status in 1809, along with a number of other Scottish regiments. They spent the years that followed trying to get it back. By 1864, when their petitions were finally successful, they had forgotten which tartan the regiment had worn when formed --in 1798, up to 1809 when it was taken away. We now know that the 91st wore Government tartan from 1798 to 1809. In 1864, The Officers of the 91st made some investigations, and came up with the WRONG answer--Campbell of Cawdor. They argued among themselves as to whether a white stripe should be part of the set, the official decision was no stripe, but some officers wore it with the white stripe any way. I believe that the 91st wore the Campbell of Cawdor up to amalgamation with the 93rd in 1881, at which point they took Government tartan into wear, as did the 93rd. This is an item of discussion in Dunn-Patinson's history of the 91st.