Soon to Arrive! Bespoke Kate Macpherson Head-on Pine Marten Sporran with Front Feet

[creagdhubh]

Greetings!

Several months ago, I placed an order with Kate Macpherson of Kate Macpherson (Handmade) Sporrans, located in gorgeous, Breakachy Farm, By Beauly, Inverness-shire, Scotland, to have a bespoke, head-on Scottish Pine Marten sporran made. These types of animal sporrans became increasingly popular throughout the 19-century, especially during the Victorian era (many of which can be seen in Kenneth MacLeay's, The Highlanders of Scotland). They were also worn quite frequently throughout the 20th-century (many 1920's-1960's Highland dress advertisements depicted men wearing various styles of head-on sporrans, some with feet/paws) and may still be seen with Highland dress - for both day and evening occassions, today.

When beginning the commissioning process, I specified such details as the sporran having two front feet at a slight angle from underneath the animal's head, to ensure the coat of the animal had its trademark white, symmetrical stripes on either side of the head, a smooth, havana brown bridle leather back with a V-gussett design to allow the sporran to be fully functional, as well as lying flatter against the front kilt apron - Kate informed me that this is how the military badger sporrans for the officers and NCO's of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, were always made. The sporran will also come with a removable 'D' ring, which will allow me to accomodate my McRostie of Glasgow, havana brown bridle leather sporran strap, or a sporran chain strap for more formal occassions. The sporran strap 'loop' was custom designed based upon the size dimensions of the McRostie sporran strap.

Kate's sporran making process is extremely in-depth and rather extensive. Her keen attention to detail is unmatched (in my humble opinion), and her knowledge of taxidermy and anatomy is immense - she has been making handmade sporrans for over 20 years and has studied with regimental sporran makers. Kate receives her animals either from roadkill 'pickup' throughout the Scottish Highlands, or from nearby farmers who have killed them (usually foxes, which can be pests). Each animal comes with the required sporran licence if applicable. She thoroughly freezes each animal to kill any bacteria and bugs. Each animal species has their own taxidermy 'forms,' in which are carefully used to shape the skull, or head of the animal. It's all a very interesting, quite labor intensive process for Kate. Throughout the commissioning process, Kate and I must have interacted, via e-mail, at least 27 different times! And every time, Kate was very patient, professional, and intuitive - she could anticipate precisely what details I preferred in regards to my sporran.

I recently received an e-mail from Kate, saying that my bespoke sporran shall be ready for shipment by the end of this week, and even though this will be my third Kate Macpherson head-on, animal sporran (as I currently own a Badger and a Mink), this shall be my first sporran with 'feet,' and I am very excited and simply cannot wait to wear it! It should arrive just in time for St. Andrew's Day next month.

I highly recommend Kate Macpherson's sporrans to anyone, they are truly expertly crafted, heirloom quality, and arguably, the best head-on sporrans available on the market today. For these reasons alone, is why Kate's handmade sporrans are quite expensive. These sporrans truly are a work of art, and are made to last for generations, just as their predecessors of the past, in which there is no doubt, inspired the modern creations by Kate. The jonesing has begun!

http://www.katemacphersonsporrans.co.uk/

Slainte mhath,