Tassels/No Tassels

[Seagrove59]

Currently making a sporran, in my research I have seen tassels on some sporrans and others without. Without tassels are they considered hunting sporrans?Also are sporrans with no tassels ok traditional with day wear? Obviously a newbie, but am just wondering as I approaching putting the sporran pieces together and am deciding tassels or no tassels.

Any assistance is appreciated

Peter

[Benning Boy]

I don't like tassels. They tend to obscure what's behind them, which is generally pretty nice. The only exception is the long horse hair sporrans. Tassels i belive sre vestigial remains of draw strings and therefore kinda fake. I'd rather have real. As far As tradition goes we know what's considered traditional today goes back to around 1950. In bygone times there was a wide variation in styles. You should be suffiently traditional doing without tassles. If anyone asks tell them your tassel-less sporran is traditional for 1790.

[FossilHunter]

Tassel and non-tassel day sporrans are equally traditional.

Here's an example of a non-tasseled sporran, worn by the Prince of Wales, who is fond of traditional Highland dress:



Sporrans marketed as hunting sporrans really just seem to be defined by having tassels sewn down to the face of the sporran. Usually oval/peanut shaped but I have seen the occasional flapped hunting sporran.

[Seagrove59]

I don't like tassels. They tend to obscure what's behind them, which is generally pretty nice. The only exception is the long horse hair sporrans. Tassels i belive sre vestigial remains of draw strings and therefore kinda fake. I'd rather have real. As far As tradition goes we know what's considered traditional today goes back to around 1950. In bygone times there was a wide variation in styles. You should be suffiently traditional doing without tassles. If anyone asks tell them your tassel-less sporran is traditional for 1790.

Thanks for the input. I was wondering what they were for as they only appear ornamental.

[Seagrove59]

Tassel and non-tassel day sporrans are equally traditional.

Here's an example of a non-tasseled sporran, worn by the Prince of Wales, who is fond of traditional Highland dress:



Sporrans marketed as hunting sporrans really just seem to be defined by having tassels sewn down to the face of the sporran. Usually oval/peanut shaped but I have seen the occasional flapped hunting sporran.

Thanks for the reply I have seen these in my research, mine does not have a oval sewn in but does have a pattern.

[Jock Scot]

————As far As tradition goes we know what's considered traditional today goes back to around 1950. ———.

I think traditional kilt attire as we know it today can probably be traced back to approximately the early 1920’s and I think by 1940 most of what is commonly worn today as traditional kilt attire, was being worn by around that time.

Yes, of course minor changes, such as lapel widths and tie widths, have come and gone and returned during that period of time and things will no doubt continue to evolve over time, but things in the traditional kilt world were evolving well before the 1950’s.

[FossilHunter]

Thanks for the reply I have seen these in my research, mine does not have a oval sewn in but does have a pattern.

Sorry if I wasn’t clear. By oval I meant the overall shape of the sporran.

[lschwartz]

My first sporran was black with white rabbit fur and tassels. I still wear it as a formal sporran, but I removed the tassels. They swing as I walk and make noise when they bounce off of the sporran. I didn't like that, so I took them off. I still have them and can put them back on if it I want, but I doubt that I will find an occasion where I would want to.

[Seagrove59]

My first sporran was black with white rabbit fur and tassels. I still wear it as a formal sporran, but I removed the tassels. They swing as I walk and make noise when they bounce off of the sporran. I didn't like that, so I took them off. I still have them and can put them back on if it I want, but I doubt that I will find an occasion where I would want to.

Thanks for the response I have gone to no tassels, If I feel I need them I will do a set for the next one.

[OC Richard]

Hunting sporrans usually have tassels, or rather flat teardrop-shaped leather things suggestive of tassels.

In WWI the Scottish regiments introduced plain brown leather sporrans, shaped like what they were, a pocket with flap.

They usually lacked tassels, and most regiments placed their regimental sporran badge on the otherwise plain front.



But some military sporrans had three tassels, and this style became extremely popular in civilian Highland Dress in the post-WWI period.



Hunting sporrans are a different animal, many early versions lacking metal cantle and flopping tassels, being non-shiny and quiet to wear:



The "day sporran" offerings from a 1936 catalogue are military-style 3-tassel leather pockets, hunting sporrans, an animal mask sporran, reproduction 18th century sporrans, and a "Rob Roy" drawstring sporran. Only brown "day" sporrans are offered at this time.



Leaving 20th century leather "day" sporrans aside, and going back to Victorian times, the ubiquitous Victorian long hair sporran was often seen without tassels:



(Note the striking similarity to many of MacLeay's men.)