Fur question concerning sporrans

[brewerpaul]

Yup, someone out there has a full mask armadillo, if you search the archive you can find a pic of it.

ith:

Just google up Armadillo hand bags and you come up with these gems. They are a tad deep being 11" side 9" tall and 6" deep but it would be one impressive sporran indeed.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-50s-...40880494409%26

[Tam Piperson]

Otter, badger, pine marten, fox, wildcat, and seal seem to have been the most traditional furs or skins used for making sporrans in Scotland, along with goatshair. Most older sporrans had bags made from buckskin, and were lined with chamois - the sort you often find in automotive departments (the real type, not the imitation).

From Christie's 26 - 27 January 2006 Auction of the late Duke of Gloucester's estate (the silver-mounted leather sporran shown in the group seems to have gone to Prince Charles, who is often seen wearing it):



PRINCE HENRY, DUKE OF GLOUCESTER'S SPORRANS LATE 19TH CENTURY early 20th century Comprising a group of five: a silver mounted fur sporran by 'R.& H.B.Kirkwood, Edinburgh, 1888', with cartouche of a crowned lion, three tassles; another silver mounted fur sporran by 'R.& H.B.Kirkwood, Edinburgh, 1891', engraved with Celtic ornament, two tassles; a silver mounted sporran by 'Jas.Aitchison, Edinburgh, 1905', tooled leather with five tassles; a tooled leather sporran with six tassles; and another leather backed fur sporran with three tassles Please note that there are only 4 sporrans in this lot and not 5 as stated in the catalogue. The silver mounted sporran by Jas.Aitchison, Edinburgh, 1905, in tooled leather with five tassles is not included in this lot.Please also note that the front part of the silver mount of the white fur sporran has London late Victorian part hall marks. Price Realized: £8,400 ($14,935)



Above from left: Prince Albert (later King George VI), Prince Henry (later Duke of Gloucester) and the Prince of Wales (later Duke of Windsor), shown wearing kilts. Below, Prince Charles wearing the identical sporran:

[creagdhubh]

Love that sporran even more every time I see it!

[Drac]

I am the owner of snakeskin, nutria and an deer (axis) sporran that have been mentioned above.

The nutria link - http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-harold-70846/

And (though not mentioned above) the axis - http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/f...-coming-67619/

All three have been standing up to use. Really enjoy the axis and nutria (need more brown gear for the snake to make more appearances) since they came from sources that aren't just killing for fur. That was one of the requirements from the start of the nutria project and Harold did an outstanding job of working under constants. The fur is gorgeous and as soft as they come.

The axis one has held up really well to wear and hasn't lost many hairs along the way. It is really my got to sporran for day wear.

Jim

[MacGumerait]

I absolutely love head-on sporrans! To me, they ooze traditional, Victorian era elegance and simplicity simultaneously. My preferred head-on sporran is made of Scottish pine marten, which has been quite a popular choice of animal for these style of sporrans for many years. However, I am also fond of badger (the European species), otter, and mink. Some time ago, I had the opportunity to bid on a gorgeous Scottish wildcat sporran (very fitting since I am a Macpherson) on Ebay, yet I was outbid at the last second! All of my head-on sporrans are custom-made by professional sporran-maker and taxidermist, Kate Macpherson of Breakachy. Kate was taught how to make sporrans by her father, who was a Regimental sporran maker for the Argyll-Sutherland Highlanders.

http://www.katemacphersonsporrans.co.uk/

My Scottish pine marten sporran with feet (optional), by Kate Macpherson.


Here's a muskrat sporran made by L&M Highland Outfitters of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, that has long been sold off. The craftsmanship was a wee bit dodgy and the fur wasn't in the best condition.


The late David Gordon Allen d'Aldecamb Lumsden of Cushnie, wearing a head-on sporran made from a red fox.



My chief (center, in the first photo), Sir William Alan Macpherson of Cluny and Blairgowrie, TD, wearing his head-on sporran made from a Scottish wildcat.



Best of luck with your new endeavour, and we shall see you at the St. Louis games!

Slainte,

Kyle , love your sporrans and the pics ! I've been contemplating this direction with sporrans . You have certainly tackled this thread " head on " .

Best , Mike