Cameron Tartan

[guardsman]

Do not buy a Lochiel Tartan , Chiefs Family only. Traders will say its ok but its not. Your Grannie would turn in Her grave!

[Grizzly]

Below is an extract from the Cameron website which clearly sets out the different tartans and their restrictions or availability. -

TARTANS There are four basic tartans which are utilized by the Clan Cameron, each of which is usually found available in "modern" (bright and lively colors), "weathered" (softer hues) and "ancient" (supposedly more authentic colors) variations.

1) Basic Clan Cameron: This sixteen green squares upon a red background sett, with a bright yellow bordering, is for general use by all members of Clan Cameron. If one tartan had to be singled out for general use by Camerons worldwide, Basic Clan Cameron would be the one. As is the case with most clan tartans, this is one from the Vestiarium of Scoticum in 1834, which was accepted by the then Lochiel. It very much resembles an old red and green square sett in the West Highlands Museum in Fort William, although there are some variations.

2) Cameron of Lochiel: This red and blue tartan is similar to that worn by the 18th Chief, Donald "The Gentle Lochiel" Cameron in a portrait hanging at Achnacarry. It was first illustrated in 1810 in Wilson's Collection. This is the personal tartan of the Chief and his immediate family; as a rule it should not be worn by clansfolk.

3) Cameron of Erracht: Said to have been designed by the wife of Donald, 7th of Erracht in 1793 (there are many theories as to its origin, none of which seem entirely satisfactory). This combination of the Cameron and MacDonald tartans uses a deep red, dark blue, green and a fine gold line. It was created for the use of the original 79th Regiment, later known as The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, raised in 1793 by their eldest son, General Sir Allan Cameron, K.C.B. Regardless of its origin, this tartan has been in use by The Cameron Highlanders since their late-eighteenth century inception. It is often used as a day or "hunting" tartan, because of its "serviceable" colors. At times it has been strictly reserved for use among the regiment, but is now in wide use among Clan Cameron. This tartan was not created as a tribal clothing specifically for the Erracht Camerons. Therefore, if any Cameron ancestors owned this tartan, it does not mean that they were Camerons of Erracht. Quite the contrary, it probably indicates a regimental affiliation or even a school uniform, as some Highland academic institutions required students to dress in this tartan.

4) Hunting Cameron (of Lochiel): With its soft shades of green and blue, this tartan is not listed as being restricted in its use. It was devised because the Basic Clan Cameron tartan was considered too bright for shootings, stalking and hiking. Designed in 1956, it was based on a description of the tartan worn by the clansmen who fought under Sir Ewen Cameron, 17th Chief, at the battle of Killiecrankie

Personally as a sept member of the Cameron Clan I prefer the Hunting Cameron Tartan which is unrestricted in its use.

hope this helps

[OC Richard]

Below is an extract from the Cameron website...

1) Basic Clan Cameron: ...this is one from the Vestiarium of Scoticum (sic) in 1834, which was accepted by the then Lochiel. It very much resembles an old red and green square sett in the West Highlands Museum in Fort William, although there are some variations.

2) Cameron of Lochiel: It was first illustrated in 1810 in Wilson's Collection.

3) Cameron of Erracht

In The Setts of the Scottish Tartans, Donald C Stewart states "the Erracht Cameron is the only one recorded by Logan" (1831).

The red "Cameron" with four equal green stripes is one of the group of similarly-arranged tartans created by the English Allen brothers and foisted upon the unsuspecting and gullible Highlanders of their day. These brother had a noticable lack of ingenuity in tartan design, and often ignored traditional ideas of design and proportion and instead favoured rigid mathematical simplicity. Here is another of these four-band tartans:



I would very much like to see the (reputedly) old authentic West Highland tartan which is said to "resemble" the Allen's ungainly Cameron design.

In Setts Stewart states that the Lochiel design first appears in Smith (1850). Is it indeed in one of the Wilson pattern-books? Under what name? (Many of the early Wilson designs were known simply by number, or by fanciful names.)

Were I a Cameron I would not hesitate to wear Erracht, an authentic 18th century tartan, instead of the four-stripe Allen creation.

[figheadair]

I would very much like to see the (reputedly) old authentic West Highland tartan which is said to "resemble" the Allen's ungainly Cameron design.

I can't think which he ment.

In Setts Stewart states that the Lochiel design first appears in Smith (1850). Is it indeed in one of the Wilson pattern-books? Under what name? (Many of the early Wilson designs were known simply by number, or by fanciful names.)

In Wilsons' 1819 KPB it's named Locheil. In the Cockburn Collection (1810-15) it's named Locheil Cameron but why is not exactly clear beyond the fact that historically the clan controlled the area and so it may have been adopted by some Camerons as 'their' tartan during the Regency era. There is no evidence for the design before about 1790 although there is a much older, similar design surviving - the subject of a forthcoming paper.[/QUOTE]

Were I a Cameron I would not hesitate to wear Erracht, an authentic 18th century tartan, instead of the four-stripe Allen creation.

***

[westy1970]

So, in being new to this type of stuff, I just purchased a modern Cameron kilt. My ties to Cameron are Taylor on my mother's side. Would I be running afoul of the Chief's wishes by wearing it?

[Jock Scot]

So, in being new to this type of stuff, I just purchased a modern Cameron kilt. My ties to Cameron are Taylor on my mother's side. Would I be running afoul of the Chief's wishes by wearing it?

As long as you are not wearing "Cameron of Lochiel" tartan you will, I am quite sure, be made very welcome at Achnacarry.

In truth if you were wearing the family tartan---Cameron of Lochiel----- you are technically doing nothing wrong-----just don't expect to get given a cup of tea by the Chief!

[Grizzly]

As a Taylor which is a sept of the Cameron Clan I would wear any of the Cameron Tartans with the exception of the Cameron of Lochiel (red and blue) which is restricted as Jock says to the Chief and his family. The hunting version (green and blue) is not restricted so, therefore would not cause any unnecessary faux pas at any Cameron gathering.

The safest bet is to wear the red and green (16 small green squares on a red background) which is the generally accepted Clan tartan.

If the mills will sell you the Cameron of Lochiel (restricted) then I think it probably says more about their willingness to sell you anything rather paying any due respect to Clan conventions.

[Jock Scot]

davidg.

I did sort out in my mind that our posts were crossing and did not think for a second that we were arguing. I know nothing of the technical facts of the matter other than two "good" sources of information disagree. Whilst I can only await answers from "those wot know" I can only ponder our various points.Thus far, a satisfactory answer is eluding me!

[davidg]

Thus far, a satisfactory answer is eluding me!

The answer, I think, is simply one of misunderstanding of terms and misguided thinking in general about "rules" on different internet sites

In this case what is being thought of as a rule is merely the wish of the clan and its chief. They want their chief to wear Lochiel and the clansmen to wear something different but in the same way that you do not need to be a Cameron to wear the Cameron tartan (because nobody can physically stop you) nor do you have to be the Chief to wear the Lochiel tartan (because nobody can physically stop you). It's not good form to break the conventions, as we both know, but it's not against the law either. It would be disrespectful though and that may be the reason why only the two mills seem to be weaving the Lochiel tartan as a stock item

[mookien]

Gentlefolk: Perhaps there is a semantic distinction to be made here.

Perhaps "restricted" does not mean "as a rule it should not be worn by clansfolk", if for no other reason than that implies if you are not Cameron clansfolk, you are then not restricted.

Perhaps "restricted" means the tartan is protected under copyright law and no weaver (subject to such laws) will weave it unless given explicit permission by the copyright owner.

Whether either of those statement is correct, or not, I am now very glad that I did not take Rocky up on his sale of a kilt in the Cameron tartan. I'd be afraid to walk out my front door. (I realize it was not the Cameron of Lochiel, but I'd still be afraid.)