Quality Sporrans for less money

[OC Richard]

I just won this one and would love to know more about it.

Any idea what that marking is on the back? Is it a maker's mark, or something more general? Are they supposed tpo be crossed swords? Do they give an indication of the period it was made?

All excellent questions, and I wish I knew more.

Trouble is, in the old catalogues they only show the fronts of the sporrans, which makes it partially quesswork marrying up sporran fronts with sporran backs.

The backs are better guides to makers because at least three makers made numerous models which were identical from the front from maker to maker.

The backs give us a number of clues:

1) stamps (if present)

2) the shape of the leather tab for the sporran belt, and the pattern of stitching holding it in place

3) the shape of the leather tab that's part of the sporran's closure method

4) the shape of the body

Here, I suspect this is an earlier sporran by WE Scott Edinburgh, which had that long-ish triangle on the bottom of the tab, and carried the gold oval Made In Scotland Real Leather stamp.

This has the stamped "X" (not swords, just lines) and four small stamps decorating the tab.



This one has a stamp I don't see much, it's not gold, and just says Made In Scotland.



The little round sunburst stamps are the same ones used to decorate the fronts of the sporrans. Most common a sort of sunburst, and a five-pointed star or flower. Less common were various styles of thistle. Here:



Most probably also by WE Scott, the same tab shape, and also with the Made In Scotland stamp though now in gold



WE Scott, as we've seen, didn't stamp their firm's name. Here's why: they were often stamped with retail shop's names.

Here, Tartan Gift Shop Edinburgh.



Here, Stewart Christie & Co Edinburgh



Here, Hugh MacPherson, Edinburgh and St Catherines (Ontario, Canada)

[asoucy]

All excellent questions, and I wish I knew more.

Trouble is, in the old catalogues they only show the fronts of the sporrans, which makes it partially quesswork marrying up sporran fronts with sporran backs.

The backs are better guides to makers because at least three makers made numerous models which were identical from the front from maker to maker.

The backs give us a number of clues:

1) stamps (if present)

2) the shape of the leather tab for the sporran belt, and the pattern of stitching holding it in place

3) the shape of the leather tab that's part of the sporran's closure method

4) the shape of the body

Here, I suspect this is an earlier sporran by WE Scott Edinburgh, which had that long-ish triangle on the bottom of the tab, and carried the gold oval Made In Scotland Real Leather stamp.

Thanks, your answer is very helpful.
Alec

[12stones]

A Nicolls Bros day sporran to watch.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/26649568113...mis&media=COPY

[OC Richard]

Typical aftermarket nonsense, a Cameron Highlanders sporran with a Royal Scots badge stuck on it (sigogglin to boot) being sold as a Royal Scots sporran.

Besides the wrong badge, this sporran has sadly been cut shorter.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/32587572548...%7C1750%7C3000

[OC Richard]

A nice brown leather Day sporran almost certainly by WE Scott Edinburgh for $50.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/38608704236...%7C1750%7C3000

Their catalogue had some puzzling codes, and the sporrans with that Celtic knotwork stamp on the flap (and sometimes on the body too) were called AZSF.

They were often done in cowhide treated to imitate pigskin, in this later catalogue called "khaki" for some reason.



The AZSF model was sold in many variants going back to the 1930s.

Bottom row, left, shows the somewhat different Celtic knotwork flap stamp used by Nicoll Brothers Bankfoot.

Incidentally there's a Nicoll Brothers AZSF on Ebay now https://www.ebay.com/itm/26649568113...%7C1750%7C3000

Top row, right, shows a flap stamp of a maker unknown to me.

The rest show the flap stamp used by WE Scott and I believe by some other makers as well.



I believe that this is the earliest image I have of that style, from a 1938 catalogue, bottom left.

[PassingW]

Richard, it has been years since I've heard the term "sigogglin" and I've never seen it written! Thanks for the smile from a fellow hillbilly.

Joel

[asoucy]

Richard, it has been years since I've heard the term "sigogglin" and I've never seen it written! Thanks for the smile from a fellow hillbilly.

Joel

And a new word for a Canadian. Thanks!

[OC Richard]

It was just the first word that came to mind... well, that and cattywompus.

Or I could have gone Aubrey-Maturin and said the badge was all ahoo.