penicuick sketches

[lyell]

does anybody have any idea what the protrudence / loop on the shoulder of some of the figures could be ? it was suggested that it was where the plaid was tied but it looks to me like they are not wearing plaid just shirt or jackets

[MacMillans son]

Welcome Lyell.

I assume that there are some visual aids that you attempted to post, but that didn't make it here. Try again, I'm sure someone here can help you.

[Paul Henry]

from this thread perhaps?
sketches

[lyell]

yes that's the one

[figheadair]

These are pretty basic sketches so the plaid may not be properly drawn in some instances but to me the loops look as though they are to represent with the ribbon ties that were in the corner of some plaids and/or an attempt to prepresent the ends of the plaid knotted at theshoulder.

[madmacs]

I'd have guessed that it was the corners of the plaid tied together... try it with a tablecloth...

[lyell]

the thing puzzling me is if it is the tied plaid it seems to be on the wrong shoulder as it would be on the opposite side to the sword arm where as here it seems to be opposite and this is with the sketches of left handed figures as well....i was wondering if it was something on the sword belt / baldric for hanging the targe? he doesn't really show the belt but you do see the scabbard so there must be one

[Captain_Cogle]

It's just the small tuft of kilt sticking up from where it is buttoned or pinned. I have never seen any historical evidence for them adding ribbon ties of any kind to pin their kilts up.

[Woodsheal]

Whatever that is sticking up in the Penicuick sketches, there's something very similar appearing in this image from the 1742 "Cloathing Book", which shows uniforms of the British army - in this case the 43rd Reg't (later the 42nd):



If you zoom in on the picture, the little stick-like object is projecting up from behind the soldier's left shoulder. A large bodkin...?

[figheadair]

I still think that these various drawings and paintings are attempts to represent the corner loop as seen in the portrait of Lord Loudoun.