HOS sporrans in the flesh

[Nathan]

To Artificer's point, by 1860, the fur trade was in full swing. Beaver pelt hats were all the rage in Europe and boats of full Highlanders were heading to Canada regularly and returning with cargo, often timber and pelts among other useful goods. If there was a time when North American pelts would be easy to obtain in Scotland and across Europe, this would be it.

The creature in the HOS has dark around the eyes that a badger and a silver fox do not. Given the accuracy and attention to detail of these illustrations, I think it's safe to say that this is a racoon head. Tobus is correct that the white fur body doesn't look like racoon, but perhaps the sporran maker was just being creative.