Tartan name

**LPF** · 5th March 14, 06:50 PM

Would anybody be able to name this tartan, I have a chance at purchasing it and would like to known what it is. Thanks for all the help. Attachment 17131 Sorry I can't seem to get the picture to load straight.

**OC Richard** · 5th March 14, 07:14 PM

this

That fellow, I'd guess, had no name whatsoever for the pattern of his outfit. It was probably just 'my green outfit'.

Nowadays we call it MacDonald Lord Of The Isles (hunting). There's also an Allen Brothers 'MacDonald of the Isles' tartan.

**LPF** · 5th March 14, 07:18 PM

Thanks, would you happen to know the tartan name?

**Domehead** · 5th March 14, 07:34 PM

What OC Richard is saying...
The tartan is known as "MacDonald Lord of the Isles sett".
However, it can be had in two colourways:
(1) Sage green Ground and Dark Green over check - as in the example you (LPF) sourced
(2) Sage Green Ground and Blue over check - as in numerous tartanological MSs, notably D.W. Stewart's Scottish Tartans Old & Rare, 1893

Domehead

**LPF** · 5th March 14, 07:38 PM

I thank you both very much, it pays to go to the experts.

**figheadair** · 6th March 14, 02:59 AM

It's called MacDonald Lord of the Isles Hunting or often more simply Lord of the Isles Hunting. This cloth looks to be the version in Lochcarron's Strome weight.

There is some disagreement over whether the darker colour should be green or blue. The Chief wears the green/blue version which he regards as his own and that the green/green version should be for his clansmen, which is how it's usually woven commercially. Having viewed the original c1760 portrait from which the sett is taken I believe that the blue/green setting is the historically correct one i.e. that given by Stewart in his Old & Rare. I have a rather fine (colour not weight) plaid in the b/g setting that I wove from naturally dyed yarn and which I'll post for comparison when I get a moment..

**Domehead** · 6th March 14, 05:31 AM

Looking forward, Figheadair. I'm off to work, but I have a question re: the naming convention of this tartan which I'll follow with later.
And, OC Richard, thanks for posting the image of the painting. I've not seen it before. May I crop it out?

Domehead.

**Riverkilt** · 6th March 14, 07:24 AM

My favorite tartan. My ancestors are from Uig and Staffin, Skye.

When I got mine, some years ago, it was only available in 12 ounce "dancer's weight" from Lochcarron but I've had no trouble at all with this weight cloth. It is a most beautiful tartan.

**OC Richard** · 6th March 14, 07:54 AM

Kind of funny that they slapped the "hunting" tag on it, isn't it? Because the tartan, as I understand, was lifted from that painting at a much later date, and that fellow certainly doesn't look like he's dressed for hunting!

As I understand it's one of the tartans which, in modern times, has been lifted from an 18th century painting, from a period before tartans were named, and before the notion of 'clan tartans' existed.

(BTW it looks like his kilt is boxpleated all around, doesn't it?)

(BTW a local High School wears that tartan, Upland High School, and they use the MacDonald crest as one of the school's symbols.)