Colors in Tartans

[OC Richard]

I couldn’t seem to find this topic discussed in previous threads so I thought I would bring it up for my own education. I am a novice when it comes to traditional tartans and the history behind each pattern and color scheme used. I have noticed, however, there seems to be tartan colors that are more prevalent than others such as reds, greens and blues. There also seems to be colors not used or rarely used in tartans such as pink. Finally, it seems to me that many of the tartan patterns use the color black or white to “frame” in other colors within the tartan.

Is there an easy to read article or book that explains the patterns and colors make up in tartans?

If you want to delve into the underlying aesthetics and systems of tartan design, and a history (such as exists) of each individual design, the go-to book in my opinion is

The Setts of the Scottish Tartans

by Donald C Stewart FSA Scot

Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh 1950

2nd revised edition Shepheard-Walwyn, London 1974

He traces a large number of tartans back to their earliest known sources, be it an 18th century fragment, an 18th century painting, an early 19th century pattern-book, or one of several 19th century books on the subject.

He also does a bit of design analysis, for example the lovely bit on "the MacDonald motif".

You will learn many interesting things, such as how one tartan now in widespread use has a flawed design due to a slapdash early 19th century book illustration being slavishly followed by the weavers (who ignored the correct written thread-count which appeared in the same book), and how many of the tartans now in widespread use were concocted on the drawing-board of two English brothers who pretended to have an ancient document giving old tartan designs. When pressed to produce the document they did- literally- and though quickly shown to be a hoax the weavers were all to ready to put all of these bogus tartans into production.