A Most Fine Victorian Scottish Military Horsehair Sporran with Silver Cantle and Tassels

A Scottish Victorian military horsehair sporran, with ball finials, and the shaped arched silver cantle and conical tassel mounts are finely engraved with scrolls and dragon, 45cm long overall, maker's mark only, Forsyth Glasgow,19th century .
Since the traditional kilt does not have pockets, the sporran serves as a wallet and container for any other necessary personal items. It is essentially a survival of the common European medieval belt-pouch, superseded elsewhere as clothing came to have pockets, but continuing in the Scottish Highlands because of the lack of these accessories in traditional dress. The sporran hangs below the belt buckle; and much effort is made to match their style and design. The kilt belt buckle can be very ornate, and contain similar motifs to the sporran cantle and the Sgian Dubh. Early sporrans would have been worn suspended from the belt on one or other of the hips, rather than hung from a separate strap in front of the wearer.

When driving a carriage, dancing, playing drums, or engaging in any activity where a heavy pouch might encumber the wearer, the sporran can be turned around the waist to let it hang on the hip in a more casual position. One ball finial lacking

Code: 21453