Sterling Silver Bespoke Sporran - Inspired by a Royal Visit

King Charles III visiting Invergordon Distillery 2023 with Joanie Whiteford, the Lord-Lieutenant of Ross and Cromarty.
© B. MacKellaich

Sterling Silver Bespoke Sporran - Inspired by a Royal visit but with a Pictish twist.

This custom sporran project began when King Charles visited the Invergordon distillery in Easter Ross. Our client John, who owns a Highland Touring Company in Inverness and frequently wears kilts, had been searching for a new 19th century-style sporran to add to his collection.

When King Charles III visited Invergordon Distillery John noticed the King’s sporran. This prompted a conversation via email with us about making a similar Jacobite style sporran, but in brass. We discussed a few designs and agreed on a new pattern in brass. The project would begin after the weekend.

Over the weekend, John sent us a picture of the King taken by his son when the King visited Invergordon Distillery. We talked further about the design and then John asked if we had anything made of silver instead of brass. We gave John some different design ideas and he really liked the silver cantle with a zoomorphic Pictish design. Both John and his wife are fond of the local Pictish art, and his wife wears some style Pictish jewellery.

So we suggested a little break in the project was required while John and his wife discussed the options and the difference in price and production times. We told John take as much time as he required and we look forward to hearing back when they had decided which way to go. After twenty minutes, they made a decision and changed the order to a Pictish-style Edinburgh hallmarked sterling silver cantle. The hand-aged pouch and tassels have a similar style to the King's sporran.

So our team of Scottish crafts folk got to work and as the weeks went by a stunning silver sporran was created. So it headed off to its new home near Inverness. John emailed us on the day of the sporrans arrival and this is where we we pass the final comments over to John.

Quote

“Yes, it was a lot more than I anticipated, but you get what you pay for, and it is worth those extra Bawbees ( Scottish sixpences issued from the reign of James V of Scotland to the reign of William II of Scotland. ) . The House of Labhran and the team have my deep thanks. Real crafts people with a pride in their work and an old fashioned no pressure relationship. As my grandfather use to say when people said “When will it be ready John,”
“When its properly finished “he would reply.
That’s House of Labhran