Vestiarium Scoticum - the tartan Pandora's box

[figheadair]

The Vestiarium Scoticum was the first book to be published dedicated to tartan, it opened the flood gates and one could argue that things have gone downhill since this was published.

[Mike_Oettle]

That is an interesting viewpoint. But when you consider that many (or most) of the tartans it includes were figments of the authors’ imaginations, I would suggest that later works are more reliable, even if not as accurate or as comprehensive as one might like.

[figheadair]

That is an interesting viewpoint. But when you consider that many (or most) of the tartans it includes were figments of the authors’ imaginations, I would suggest that later works are more reliable, even if not as accurate or as comprehensive as one might like.

Later works were certainly more reliable insofar as they generally included setts that existed prior to the VS although their accuracy was often wanting. This was often the result of early printing inconsistancies, bleeding of the plates' colours, that resulted in all sorts of variations that led to later confusion.

[NPG]

Despite its dubious nature, I've always found it as an interesting historical document. Not for its accuracy of course, but because it is an example of what I like to call "invented history". The fact that it a commercial document that filled a need/demand at the time makes it all the more interesting as it was a history people were willing and wanted to buy into.

[figheadair]

One of the interesting things about the VS, if interesting is the right word, is the fact that if one takes in the earlier Cromarty Mss into account then this masterpiece of deception took nearly 15 years to get off the ground. So far as I know, this was the first example of tartans being designed by non-weavers which goes some way to explaining some of the incosistancies and often garish designs.

[Jock Scot]

I am very far from a tartan expert in any sense, but as an interested observer I find the whole story of tartans rather amusing, particularly the shady antics of the two brothers. Personally I have no problem with their designs, from a technical point, they are what they are and well, someone had to design the tartans, so why not a brace of con artists? Scotland's tourist industry thrives on not so much "invented" history, but certainly an "adjusted" version of our history, so tartans are a continuation of that in my view. Strangely, I and many Scottish kilt wearers of our chosen tartan, whilst being mildly aware of some of our Clan tartans' dubious start in life are still very possessive of it nonetheless. I also think most are blissfully unaware of their tartan's-----any tartan---- origin! Which brings me to the questions Peter.

As I have never seen what is contained within those pages, how many designs are contained within and how many of the designs of tartans in those books are actually produced and worn today?

[Downunder Kilt]

Jock, if you follow the link you will be able to browse through a copy of the VS

http://scottishtartans.org/resources/index.php

From the Scottish Tartans Museum resource library. Cheers

[figheadair]

Which brings me to the questions Peter.

As I have never seen what is contained within those pages, how many designs are contained within and how many of the designs of tartans in those books are actually produced and worn today?

Jock, there are 75 tartan plates covering a mix of Highland Clans and Lowland families (I use the differentiation deliberately). As a generalisation, those clans that had existing tartans, often the work of Wilsons, tend to use the older sett whereas where there was no tartan then the one given by the Allan brothers is often the one still in use today. When I have some time I will run up a list with comment against each.

[IsaacW]

I am on the edge of my seat, following this thread. I find this topic fascinating. Although the history of "clan tartans" is twisted, contrived, and dubious... it happened. As a "history nerd" I often dismissed the modern reality of tartans due to the fact that historically (mid 18th century and earlier) the clan connections did not exist, and I thought it a silly construction. As I have grown older (okay... I am not THAT old), studied more history, and then spent time as a student in Scotland, I realized that perception is reality. Even if not "real" in a older sense, it has become real in more recent history and this is how traditions form and become what we do. Even if the Allan brothers were con artists, they have made their mark on history and have a legacy. What we perceive of this and what happens from this... I am interested in!

Isaac

[ShaunMaxwell]

Interesting thread!

Thanks for the link, Downunder... I'd never seen the plates, nor a complete listing of the tartans that appeared in the VS.

I was aware that the Maxwell (a Lowland family) tartan that appears in the VS is the one in use by the Maxwell's today.

Seeing the various plates on one screen, I was struck by how similar some are (for example, Maxwell and Robertson).

Looking forward to Peter's comments.

SM