Quality Sporrans for less money

**Troglodyte** · 9th December 24, 02:40 AM

And now there's this - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/335718385626

Bidding has already taken the cost over £300 and there are still six days to go!

This one has a superb cantle, and would make a very nice addition to any collection - what a pity, then, that the strap keepers and pocket flap are missing.

My guess is that it would once have looked more like this

DSCF7007.jpg

**figheadair** · 9th December 24, 03:23 AM

Originally Posted by Troglodyte

And now there's this - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/335718385626

Bidding has already taken the cost over £300 and there are still six days to go!

This one has a superb cantle, and would make a very nice addition to any collection - what a pity, then, that the strap keepers and pocket flap are missing.

My guess is that it would once have looked more like this

DSCF7007.jpg

A Long-haired Young & Tatton - that's probably going to make £1500-£2000.

Ah yes. I know who the seller is. He has quite a collection which he is beginning to sell off. Stand by!

**Padraicog** · 9th December 24, 07:27 AM

Originally Posted by Troglodyte

And now there's this - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/335718385626

This one has a superb cantle, and would make a very nice addition to any collection - what a pity, then, that the strap keepers and pocket flap are missing.

DSCF7007.jpg

I agree. But wearing the sporran the right way round it seems not to matter too much

**OC Richard** · 9th December 24, 04:02 PM

For those that missed this beauty here are some photos from the Ebay listing.

The most interesting thing to me is the way they combined the loops for a sporran belt and the rings for a sporran chain.

**Troglodyte** · 10th December 24, 04:22 AM

Originally Posted by Padraicog

I agree. But wearing the sporran the right way round it seems not to matter too much

Very true.

And that seems to be no concern for a great many people, if the number of sporrans available with no carrying capacity at all is anything to go by.

Have a look at this early 20th century (Edwardian?) example - its only function is ornament. A beauty just the same.

DSCF6394.jpg DSCF6396.jpg

**OC Richard** · 10th December 24, 05:03 AM

Alright travelling back to the brief a WE Scott "semi dress" not my cup of tea but Scottish made for 10 dollars

https://www.ebay.com/itm/38770781140...Bk9SR6jRhIf2ZA

Much nicer here, a rather older WE Scott "day" sporran back when they were still stamping the "X" with four sun-circles on the leather stamp tab on back.

I know they had dropped this nice feature by the time of their 1953 Patent, and the Hugh MacPherson stamped sporrans (see below) that I've seen lack it, taking us back to 1946.

Currently around 10 dollars, it will go up I'm sure.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/22648914637...Bk9SR6jRhIf2ZA

Another nice WE Scott brown "day" sporran, stamped Hugh MacPherson Edinburgh St Catherines. Up around 30 dollars now, it will go up too.

Hugh MacPherson opened his Edinburgh shop in 1946 which frames the earliest timing nicely. I don't know when he stopped selling WE Scott sporrans under the Hugh MacPherson stamp, but all the ones I've seen have been older.

What about the "St Catherines" part? At the age of 17, in 1924, Hugh moved to Canada and soon started importing and selling piping supplies. When he returned to Scotland in 1945 his brother was left in charge of the Ontario business. I've not seen a sporran stamped "Hugh MacPherson St Catherines" so perhaps it was after 1945 that Hugh struck up his relationship with WE Scott.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/15657215654...Bk9SR6jRhIf2ZA

Pound Shop find! WE Scott "semi dress" with seal front for you outwith the USA

https://www.ebay.com/itm/26709253210...Bk9SR8ry2Ij2ZA

Nicoll Brothers "semi dress" with seal front 25 dollars once again taboo for those in the USA.

The seal has had damage. What eats the seal? Moths?

No measurements are provided, and this sporran has a bit of a "youth size" feel to it.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/18683287258...Bk9SR8zy2Ij2ZA

**Troglodyte** · 11th December 24, 06:00 AM

Has someone won the lottery, and they're not telling us..?

For there sure are plenty of signs.

This little lot came up at auction this morning, and, as nice as they are, our mystery lottery-winner has out-bid everyone again.

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/a...c518bdcc7b28d9

Hammer-price is £3,000 ($3,820us) and with 'fees' the bill will be about £4,000 or $5,095us. And here was me thinking they would stay on the preferable side of £1,000. Silly me.

**OC Richard** · 13th December 24, 05:56 AM

Originally Posted by Troglodyte

This little lot came up at auction this morning, and, as nice as they are, our mystery lottery-winner has out-bid everyone again.

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/a...c518bdcc7b28d9

Very interesting! Here are those sporrans in situ

I went down the Tyneside Scottish rabbit-hole a while back, their WWI tartan and pipers kit

https://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/...14-18-a-98270/

**OC Richard** · 20th December 24, 03:55 AM

WE Scott seal eve sporran with "G" top stamped Made In Scotland on the side, generally these are silver-plated but I'm not sure about this one.

35 pounds. https://www.ebay.com/itm/32637704174...Bk9SR7DIl7v8ZA

WE Scott "semi dress". Seller says it's black, in the photos it looks really dark brown.

55 pounds. https://www.ebay.com/itm/32637703390...Bk9SR7DIl7v8ZA