|
Contents |
Tartans of the Clan Macpherson |
|
Clan Tartans Menu
A few of the Tartans which have been assigned names
|
TartansTartans began as local designs which can best be described as district tartans or area tartans. The local weaver had a favorite SETT which he wove and sold to the local folks. When the clan showed up on the battlefield, they all dressed the same same as their tartan had been obtained from the same local weaver no doubt. At least until they dropped their kilts to fight the battle. But the kilt's SETT was not known as a Clan Tartan until after Sir Walter Scott put on the big show in Edinburgh for the visit of King George IV. When all the Highland Clan Chief's came to participate in their Highland Dress, the kilt and it's design became the rage of the day, the must item to have. The Tartan caught on and the Weavers in the new mills went to work. In the years that followed, the mills, especially "Wilson's" began to list and keep track of "Clan" Tartans. If a clan had no tartan, one was created for them so that every clan and district had a "Named" Tartan. Some families also have Tartan SETT's named for them. This may have occurred because some mill owners said to themselves, "There are a lot of folks with the name "XYZ", lets create a tartan and call it the "XYZ" Tartan" and they will buy it. They did and a lot more were created. Then someone with a given surname "ZYX" said, "There is no "ZYX" Tartan, I will design one. He did, and today there is a "ZYX" Tartan. Tartans are an ongoing art form, new ones are designed and woven each year, some designs are even created by accident. In the following list, #3 Clan Modern Colors, #9 Hunting, and #12 Cluny Dress are the "Traditional" Tartans of the Clan since the 19th century. In the last 200 years, many additional designs for tartans and variations on the designs have been created by weavers and others and given the name Macpherson to them. This is especially true in the dress tartan where several variations have been created as "Dancers Fancy Dress" Tartans. They carry the name Macpherson and are seen being worn by many a Highland Dancer. As it is economics that drives the tartan industry, a few years ago the industry decided that if they came up with a whole new set of tartan colors there was a ready market waiting. Thus came into existence the "Ancient colors." A simple rule to remember, is that Ancient colors are new and modern colors are ancient. With the success the industry had with Ancient colors there can be little doubt why the "Weathered" tartan colors now appeared on the market, which are newer than the Ancient by a couple of years, which in turn is newer than the modern colors by a couple of centuries. We must also acknowledge that some of the Associated families of the Clan have also designed tartans or had them designed for them for reasons unknown, and now have "Named Tartans" as well. Some of those are also available here for viewing. A final thought:Ach mon, I kanna control the colors on your pooter, nor for that matter can weavers control dye lots, but the Tartans in the menu to the left, should be close enough to give you the idea. :) On each page is listed information concerning where the data (if known) was found for each of the tartans that have had the "name" Macpherson attached to their design. In some cases this will be from the Tartan Educational and Cultural Association. Inc., The Scottish Tartans Society, or both. If you know of a tartan that should be listed, please contact the webmaster.
|
