Can anyone tell me when this practice began. I have read on the internet that it probably began in Victorian times. I have a Scottish chap living in Ireland early -mid 1800's who dressed up on St Andrew's day complete with three feathers in his bonnet. Current day he would be going against tradition but then?
Thanks
Wearing of feathers in bonnet
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Sneff
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Hibee
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Re: Wearing of feathers in bonnet
Hi Sneff
Welcome to TalkingScot.
There is some information about the right to wear feathers in here.... http://www.electricscotland.com/heraldry/feathers.htm
Hibee
Welcome to TalkingScot.
There is some information about the right to wear feathers in here.... http://www.electricscotland.com/heraldry/feathers.htm
Hibee
www.adams-of-adamsrow.com
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Currie
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Re: Wearing of feathers in bonnet
Thanks Hibee, interesting stuff.
Nothing to do with the sort of bonnet the Scottish chap in Ireland would have been wearing, but while we’re on the subject of feathers and bonnets, and particularly feather bonnets, here are a few words written to the Editor of the Glasgow Herald by Mr. Archibald Campbell back in 1884.
THE HIGHLAND FEATHERS BONNET.
Coombe Hill Farm, Kingston-on-Thames,
7th January, 1884.
Sir,—Allow me through your columns to have one more wipe at the men who are discarding the Highland feathers bonnet at the War Office, Now, Sir, ₤4000 would secure their retention for years to come, as I have before now pointed out. It was Duncan Macpherson, of the Black Watch, who told me his had lasted some eighteen years, Eighteen years! Whose hat lasts so long? It served him as a pillow, and I have heard that in a mess-room bear fight such bonnets have served as footballs and yet been fit to wear. Who could sleep on his helmet? If you, Sir, have been to a levee of late you would have heard amid the crowd a constant crackle. These are these helmets—useless gear, dinting, crackling in, under the arms of the gallant owners, who have a hard time of it to know what to do with the spike. What can a man do with the spike?—pick his teeth or what?
The whole thing reminds me of the toy things we used to get at the Christmas tree from Regent Street shops—copies of the skull-covering of the Germans. Now, Sir, I think it can be little known that in a full-length portrait painted by our Scottish Vandyck—Jamesone—of the second Earl of Moray, this Earl, in full Highland dress, kilt, belted plaid, broad blue bonnet, he wears a tuft of snowy plumes. I have had this picture engraved, and it will form the frontispiece of a work I am engaged on. These snowy plumes are apparently ostrich plumes. Now, Sir, we know ostriches don't breed in Scotland, nor are they to be found there. We know, Sir, that these feathers have long been imported into Europe, and, Sir, we know the love of display the Highlander had. That the Highlanders wore plumes we all know, but if I mistake not ostrich plumes were in use before the formation of the Black Watch.
Jamesone lived in Charles I. days. The feathers bonnet has become famous from old days in Egypt, Quebec days, Waterloo days, Crimean days, and Cawnpore days. Let it be kept. It is ridiculous to let ₤4000 stand in the way of the soldiers' wish—above all, I believe, in the way of the wishes of our Queen. Why not ask our Scotch members to insist on its retention? If they made the least noise they would grant the ₤4000, Let us say a reward for being not bad boys, on the whole, as a nation! If a change is made I want a change to far older days, to the round blue bonnet with tuft of feathers, not the absurd helmet. —I am, &c.,
ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL.
Feathers bonnet - http://www.tartansauthority.com/sta_leg ... _WATCH.jpg
Absurd helmet - http://www.tartansauthority.com/sta_leg ... _SCOTS.jpg
Alan
Nothing to do with the sort of bonnet the Scottish chap in Ireland would have been wearing, but while we’re on the subject of feathers and bonnets, and particularly feather bonnets, here are a few words written to the Editor of the Glasgow Herald by Mr. Archibald Campbell back in 1884.
THE HIGHLAND FEATHERS BONNET.
Coombe Hill Farm, Kingston-on-Thames,
7th January, 1884.
Sir,—Allow me through your columns to have one more wipe at the men who are discarding the Highland feathers bonnet at the War Office, Now, Sir, ₤4000 would secure their retention for years to come, as I have before now pointed out. It was Duncan Macpherson, of the Black Watch, who told me his had lasted some eighteen years, Eighteen years! Whose hat lasts so long? It served him as a pillow, and I have heard that in a mess-room bear fight such bonnets have served as footballs and yet been fit to wear. Who could sleep on his helmet? If you, Sir, have been to a levee of late you would have heard amid the crowd a constant crackle. These are these helmets—useless gear, dinting, crackling in, under the arms of the gallant owners, who have a hard time of it to know what to do with the spike. What can a man do with the spike?—pick his teeth or what?
The whole thing reminds me of the toy things we used to get at the Christmas tree from Regent Street shops—copies of the skull-covering of the Germans. Now, Sir, I think it can be little known that in a full-length portrait painted by our Scottish Vandyck—Jamesone—of the second Earl of Moray, this Earl, in full Highland dress, kilt, belted plaid, broad blue bonnet, he wears a tuft of snowy plumes. I have had this picture engraved, and it will form the frontispiece of a work I am engaged on. These snowy plumes are apparently ostrich plumes. Now, Sir, we know ostriches don't breed in Scotland, nor are they to be found there. We know, Sir, that these feathers have long been imported into Europe, and, Sir, we know the love of display the Highlander had. That the Highlanders wore plumes we all know, but if I mistake not ostrich plumes were in use before the formation of the Black Watch.
Jamesone lived in Charles I. days. The feathers bonnet has become famous from old days in Egypt, Quebec days, Waterloo days, Crimean days, and Cawnpore days. Let it be kept. It is ridiculous to let ₤4000 stand in the way of the soldiers' wish—above all, I believe, in the way of the wishes of our Queen. Why not ask our Scotch members to insist on its retention? If they made the least noise they would grant the ₤4000, Let us say a reward for being not bad boys, on the whole, as a nation! If a change is made I want a change to far older days, to the round blue bonnet with tuft of feathers, not the absurd helmet. —I am, &c.,
ARCHIBALD CAMPBELL.
Feathers bonnet - http://www.tartansauthority.com/sta_leg ... _WATCH.jpg
Absurd helmet - http://www.tartansauthority.com/sta_leg ... _SCOTS.jpg
Alan