Authentic Culloden Sporran

[Eric_Methven]

This is an accurate copy of a sporran worn on the battlefield of Culloden, hidden when the tartans and Highland dress was banned, and brought once more to light among the treasured possessions of an old man in Inverness when he passed to the next world.

His family showed it to a friend who took it to an Archaeologist (our own Toddy) who specialises in costume and textiles and she retro engineered it and drafted a pattern from it so it could be recreated authentically.

This sporran has been made from the very finest Italian veg tanned leather, sewn using (synthetic) sinew and leather lacing. Like the original, it has no metal parts.

The sporran is a basic utilitarian pouch that would have been a normal everyday part of a working highlander's dress. Nothing fancy and no 'bling' and interestingly, very reminiscent of an example in the Hudsons Bay Museum. Very possibly brought there by a Scottish emigrant about the time of the clearances. Similar pouches were copied by the fur trappers in North America and these then became known as possibles pouches.

This was a very interesting and fun project to undertake.

Thanks for looking,

Eric

 

[warthog1981]

Very nicely done Eric

cheers Russ

 

[JohnC]

That looks very good, roughly what thickness is the leather in the bag part, Eric?

 

[pwb]

Lovely work Eric , and an interesting history .

 

[Ogri the trog]

A thing of rare beauty!
Without those who kept it hidden and safe we'd never have known - thanks in the first part to them all.
and thank you both for sharing it with us.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[JonathanD]

I agree with all of the above, that is a thing of great beauty and a fitting tribute.

 

[Trev]

Hi ,
Interesting stuff , and simple in the scheme of things . What sort of belt would have been worn with it , I presume it would have been worn buckled/clasped around to one side rather than the modern day centre .
Cheers , Trev .
Or would it have hung on it's own "belt thing " from the belt ?

 

[Radix lecti]

Cracking work there Eric,thanks for sharing.
Darren

 

[Retired Member southey]

Thats great, i like the graduating tones, really well done there guys.

 

[sam_acw]

Looks great, is the pattern going to be published anywhere?

 

[Eric_Methven]

Looks great, is the pattern going to be published anywhere?

That'll be up to Toddy, it's her pattern.

 

[Eric_Methven]

Hi ,
Interesting stuff , and simple in the scheme of things . What sort of belt would have been worn with it , I presume it would have been worn buckled/clasped around to one side rather than the modern day centre .
Cheers , Trev .
Or would it have hung on it's own "belt thing " from the belt ?

It would depend on whether the owner was in battle, training for battle or working in the fields. The belt would have been leather, about three quarters to an inch wide and would have been with a leather buckle most likely similar to the bottom one in this picture.

 

[Toddy]

Eric, I am delighted to see the sporran recreated
It just looks so *real*
No Victorian excrescences, no exotic furs, just a decent bit of traditional everyday wear.

This one was made as a commission for a friend's father in law; they are both going to be so pleased with this

atvb,
Mary

 

[Trev]

Hi ,
Thanks Eric , I think I'll make a belt similar to that . Too much of a faff for trousers , but on the odd occasion I where a plaid it will make me feel better knowing the belt is somewhat realistic (even if no-one else can see it ) .
Also apologies I forgot to say how stunning the sporran looked , it does .
Cheers Trev .

 

[Eric_Methven]

That looks very good, roughly what thickness is the leather in the bag part, Eric?

The bag part is approximately 3mm. The lid part is the same 3mm on the top and some 2mm goat skin underneath to give it a bit of solidity. The lid parts are glued and saddle stitched around the edge. It has a 2" gusset.

 

[Eric_Methven]

Thats great, i like the graduating tones, really well done there guys.

The graduating tones really add character - and I didn't know it would work like that until it was done. The reason is that there is a ¾" fold over all around the top of the bag, making it double thickness. Likewise the lid is double thickness.
When I dyed the parts (before assembly), I dyed both inside and outside. The darker body is achieved becaude it has twice the amount of dye soaking right through. The double thick parts have only the surface dye showing so it looks lighter in tone.

 

[JohnC]

Thanks for that Eric...

 

[John Fenna]

Beautiful work!

 

[Tengu]

that is a seriously businesslike bag

 

[drewdunnrespect]

that is ace mate and looks amazing