odd vintage sporran mashup on Ebay

**artificer** · 11th October 12, 06:11 AM

I am completely flabbergasted, and yet strangely curious.

The cantle obviously doesn't match the front body of the sporran with it's leather flap. At the same time, the rear of the bag appears to be from a horse hair sporran.

Look at the cut edge of the fur (especially noticeable in the upper right hand corner). Detail Below

There are a few things that puzzle me about this.
1) there is no gusset for the original bag. Of course this means that nothing much could have been put in it.
2) the edge is very crudely cut and stitched. Not what I'd expect given the nicely detailed back of the piece.
3) you can make out the brown of the tassels just above the rear pockets and the brown of the front flap at the top of the the strap keeper - but they're at odds with the nice oxblood of the bag back.
4) the ungainly gap and cut off of the actual sporran body inside the cantle

If I had my guess, we're looking at the parts from at least 3 sporrans: a horsehair sporran BODY BACK; a different sporran cantle; a day sporran's FLAP and tassles; and the fur. The reason I don't think the fur is from the original bag is that the tassels would be on the front panel (the fur itself) and have no need to pierce the back of the bag. Also, the rolled gusset is missing.

I could be way out in left field, but those are my thoughts. Anyone?

ith:

**Chas** · 11th October 12, 06:17 AM

Originally Posted by Chas

I just looked at his ME page on eBay -
S Smith
6 Wells Road
Fakenham
Norfolk
NR21 9AA
UK
He lives 25 miles down the road from me! If I can get there in the next 9 days I will give us all an update. Take a few extra pictures as well.
Regards

Chas

I hadn't realised till my wife just pointed it out - she was born at Number 4 Wells Road!

Regards

Chas

**piperdbh** · 11th October 12, 08:40 AM

It's advertised as "Solid Scottish Silver". Wouldn't that make it too heavy to wear?

**Chas** · 11th October 12, 08:42 AM

Originally Posted by piperdbh

It's advertised as "Solid Scottish Silver". Wouldn't that make it too heavy to wear?

As opposed to silver plate which was copper coated with silver.

Regards

Chas

**Tobus** · 11th October 12, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by chewse

Does anyone recognize the manufacturer mark on the candle? Just curious....

Using the wonders of the internet, I have been able to verify that the marks do indeed date it to 1895, Glasgow, and it's marked as .925 Sterling Silver. But I can't find any info about the maker's mark, which seems to read L.C.&Co. Or maybe L.G.&Co. Can't be sure. But neither one seems to appear on any of the sites I've found that list Glasgow makers.

**creagdhubh** · 11th October 12, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

Yes somebody took a vintage sporran sort of like one of these

and stuck on the cantle taken off of a hair sporran like one of these

Very nice sporrans!

**ScotFree** · 11th October 12, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by OC Richard

I love the tassels on this sporran. Does this style have a special name?

**Downunder Kilt** · 11th October 12, 01:51 PM

Originally Posted by artificer

I am completely flabbergasted, and yet strangely curious.

The cantle obviously doesn't match the front body of the sporran with it's leather flap. At the same time, the rear of the bag appears to be from a horse hair sporran.

Look at the cut edge of the fur (especially noticeable in the upper right hand corner). Detail Below

There are a few things that puzzle me about this.
1) there is no gusset for the original bag. Of course this means that nothing much could have been put in it.
2) the edge is very crudely cut and stitched. Not what I'd expect given the nicely detailed back of the piece.
3) you can make out the brown of the tassels just above the rear pockets and the brown of the front flap at the top of the the strap keeper - but they're at odds with the nice oxblood of the bag back.
4) the ungainly gap and cut off of the actual sporran body inside the cantle

If I had my guess, we're looking at the parts from at least 3 sporrans: a horsehair sporran BODY BACK; a different sporran cantle; a day sporran's FLAP and tassles; and the fur. The reason I don't think the fur is from the original bag is that the tassels would be on the front panel (the fur itself) and have no need to pierce the back of the bag. Also, the rolled gusset is missing.

I could be way out in left field, but those are my thoughts. Anyone?

ith:

Scott I concur that it appears to be a 3 sporran job. From the front it appears to be a standard day sporran with a usuable flap (the design is not unlike standard military ones used up until the early 1950's) The rear is a standard hair sporran purse backing. I would suggest the a army sporran front has has fur attatched to it with the rear of a hair sporran attached to that piece and a ill fitting cantle stuck on.

Below is a image of army issue sporran. These also came with tassells as per the subject sporran front

**CMcG** · 11th October 12, 05:59 PM

I'm imagining some canny chap, back in the day, who inherited three sporrans. They were all in rough shape, not one of them were wearable, so he cobbled together...

MacFrankenstein's SPORRAN!!!!

**creagdhubh** · 12th October 12, 06:55 AM

Originally Posted by CMcG

I'm imagining some canny chap, back in the day, who inherited three sporrans. They were all in rough shape, not one of them were wearable, so he cobbled together...

MacFrankenstein's SPORRAN!!!!

Hahahaha!!! Well put Colin, considering Halloween is just around the corner.

Cheers,