animal sporrans ... symbolism, historic purpose, magick?

[creagdhubh]

My favourite type of sporran to wear is most definitely the full-mask animal sporran, though I am rather strict on what type of animal it is and how it is made. I do not care for the look of various North American animal species when made into a full-mask sporran (some look like massive, hairy "furballs"), rather, I prefer the European varieties of badger, fox, pine marten, mink, otter, and pole cat (a much cleaner, sleeker look). I would love to have a Scottish Wildcat full-mask sporran, however, they are highly endangered and protected, and unless one is recovered dead from a motorway in Scotland and made into a animal-mask sporran by my sporran-maker, I don't see myself owning one in the near future.

There are several wonderfuly made Scottish Wildcat full-mask sporrans out there. Many of them are owned by my fellow Macpherson clansmen, as well as my Chief, Cluny-Macpherson. The Scottish Wildcat is the crest of my chief, Macpherson chieftains, as well as many Macpherson armigers and has often been referred to as a clan totem or talisman, which is not unheard of in the Highlands. Many Highland clans had their animal "preference" to serve as their totem and talisman and to be depicted in various armorial bearings, among other things. Several clans (Mackintosh, MacBean, MacGillivray) within the great Clan Chattan confederation use the Scottish Wildcat as their totem, as well as the crest of their respected chiefs. I think for this particular reason of holding the elusive Scottish Wildcat sacred and respected, is why many members of these clans choose to wear a full-mask sporran made from the pelt and head of a Scottish Wildcat.

I choose to wear my full-mask sporrans made of pine marten, otter, mink, and badger, simply because I like the look of them. I like the traditional "feel" that they bring, as I have seen many lovely, old photographs and paintings of Highland men (as well as Victorian era Royals) wearing such sporrans. They are extremely versatile too, often being acceptable for both day and evening wear. Kate Macpherson of Inverness-shire, Scotland is the maker of my bespoke, full-mask sporrans and she has always done a superb job; arguably the best maker of such sporrans today. She is a trained taxidermist with many years of experience behind her belt, and she adheres to a very traditional way of making her sporrans - along the lines of Scottish Regimental tradition (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders to be specific) - offering either a full pouch or a v-gussett, the latter allows the sporran to lie flater against the kilt apron - my preferred method of construction. Kate also uses animals that have only been killed either on a motorway/road, or by a nearby farmer who has shot the animal (more than often a fox) for disturbing or killing livestock. Kate does not use animals that have been intentionally killed to be made into sporrans.

Me wearing a Scottish Pine Marten animal-mask sporran "with feet" (an optional detail) by Kate Macpherson.


My Chief, Sir William Alan Macpherson of Cluny and Blairgowrie (center, flanked by Glentruim and Pitmain - Clan Macpherson Chieftains of leading cadet branches of the clan) wearing a Scottish Wildcat animal-mask sporran.


The late David Gordon Allen d'Aldecamb Lumsden of Cushnie wearing a fox animal-mask sporran.


Bruce Macpherson of London (in the Chattan tartan) and John Macpherson of Montrose (in the Macpherson dress tartan) both wearing Scottish Wildcat animal-mask sporrans.


Kate Macpherson in an interview with BBC Scotland at her shop in Inverness-shire. Beautiful examples of some of her completed animal-mask sporrans.


P.S. - Kate Macpherson's sporrans come with the appropriate licence issued by the Scottish Government.

Cheers,

[creagdhubh]

The earliest painting I see which clearly shows a badger mask sporran is The MacNab by Raeburn, which by the style of his jacket looks maybe c1810.

This is the painting Richard is referring to. A wonderful portrait indeed!

[dea3369]

Kate Macpherson in an interview with BBC Scotland at her shop in Inverness-shire. Beautiful examples of some of her completed animal-mask sporrans.

P.S. - Kate Macpherson's sporrans come with the appropriate licence issued by the Scottish Government.

Cheers,

That's the first time I've seen a sporran with feathers (lower-left corner of the photo). Now, that's different.

[MacMillan of Rathdown]

The late David Gordon Allen d'Aldecamb Lumsden of Cushnie wearing a fox animal-mask sporran.

This photo captures not only David's great sense of style -- he was, in his day, one of the best dressed kilted gentlemen in Scotland -- but also his immense sense of fun and occasion.

[MacSpadger]

This is the painting Richard is referring to. A wonderful portrait indeed!

I have seen Raeburn's picture of Archibald MacNab, the thirteenth, hanging in the Kelvingrove, and I'll be able to see it again on Monday. It was painted in 1802. MacNab probably rivalled Glengarry (also painted by Raeburn), in terms of being an arrogant eccentric who ran up phenomenal debts. Like Glengarry, MacNab spent a fortune on Highland clothing far beyond the reach of the rest of the Highland population. Full face sporrans must have been expensive then too. MacNab never married, but had 32 illegitimate children.

[dea3369]

I have seen Raeburn's picture of Archibald MacNab, the thirteenth, hanging in the Kelvingrove, and I'll be able to see it again on Monday. It was painted in 1802. MacNab probably rivalled Glengarry (also painted by Raeburn), in terms of being an arrogant eccentric who ran up phenomenal debts. Like Glengarry, MacNab spent a fortune on Highland clothing far beyond the reach of the rest of the Highland population. Full face sporrans must have been expensive then too. MacNab never married, but had 32 illegitimate children.

Jeepers! Arrogant eccentric. Phenomenal debts. Illegitimate children. But then again, this sounds like a description of some very public figures nowadays. I guess some things never change.

[creagdhubh]

That's the first time I've seen a sporran with feathers (lower-left corner of the photo). Now, that's different.

Yes, Kate makes some very exotic sporrans made of pheasant (hence the feathers) and even some made of deer!

Cheers,

[creagdhubh]

This photo captures not only David's great sense of style -- he was, in his day, one of the best dressed kilted gentlemen in Scotland -- but also his immense sense of fun and occasion.

***

I wish I would have had the honour of meeting him.

Cheers,

[auld argonian]

Jeepers! Arrogant eccentric. Phenomenal debts. Illegitimate children. But then again, this sounds like a description of some very public figures nowadays. I guess some things never change.

Yeah..if he was a forum member, everybody would be asking him for advice....

Best

AA

[Johnny Selkie]

Does anyone know a business/website where one can a hold of sporrans made of Norwegian sealskin? There are many tales of mysterious magical halfseal/halfman creatures in the folklore of Orkney, Zetland and western Norway. To me a sealsporran would be the most appropriate way to show my heritage as some of my known ancestors used to hunt seals and whales way back.