The House of Labhran

We have just added some new additions to our Vintage Highland Dress Photograph Gallery.

Just updated our Facebook with some of our new bespoke and vintage sporran images

Some things endure because they are made with care. Others endure because they are made with care and belong to the soul of a people.

— House of Labhran

Check it out here

The Highland Games of the 1930's captured a Scotland poised between fading Victorian tradition and the modern age. Across Highland glens and market towns, clansmen, athletes, pipers, and spectators gathered beneath uncertain skies to celebrate strength, kinship, and enduring Highland identity.

These remarkable photographs preserve more than sport alone. They reveal a world of tweed jackets worn against the Highland wind, heavy wool tartans draped with pride, polished brogues sinking into rain-soaked grass, and weathered faces shaped by mountain air and hard country life.

There is an unmistakable dignity in these scenes — cabers raised against distant hills, hammer throwers standing solemnly before the crowd, pipe bands assembled with military precision, and spectators lining the field in hats and greatcoats as though attending a royal gathering upon the moor.

Many of the traditions visible in these photographs stretch back centuries:

the gathering of clans,

clan chiefs

martial pipe music,

and the enduring spirit of community in the Highlands of Scotland.

What makes the imagery of the 1930s especially compelling is its atmosphere of transition. The old Highland world still lingered in manner, dress, and ceremony, even as the modern century advanced around it. These photographs preserve a final glimpse of a deeply romantic Scotland before the upheavals of war and industrial modernity altered much of Highland life forever.

For more images of vintage Highland Games why not visit our website blog post. Enjoy

A Sporran is a pouch (Scottish Gaelic for ‘purse’) traditionally worn as part of Highland dress, Suspended by a chain or leather strap that wraps around the waist, it is now primarily a decorative accessory.

Some things endure because they are made with care. Others endure because they are made with care and belong to the soul of a people.

It originally served as a practical and essential everyday item for carrying personal belongings. Typically made of leather or fur, the sporran often features intricate silver or other decorative ornamentation.

A sporran is a pouch worn at the front of a kilt, suspended by a chain or leather strap that wraps around the waist. It serves both a decorative and practical purpoe.

Originally, the sporran was used to carry everyday items like coins and food rations, since kilts traditionally had no pockets. Even today the sporran remains a practical little purse, ideal for keeping essentials such as keys, phones and wallets — and for some, even a compact hip flask — safely close at hand. If you need any further help feel free to contact us at The House of Labhran.

How to Wear a Sporran

To put on a sporran:

Wrap the chain or strap around your waist over the kilt.

Secure the strap or chain at the back.

Adjust the sporran so it hangs centrally and at the proper height.

Types of Sporrans

Day Sporrans - Traditionally a leather pouch often in deerskin or calf skin with or without a simple cantle in brass. The leather is often studded or tooled with various leather tassel options.

Semi Dress Sporrans - A leather pouch with a fur front and a various tassel styles perfect semi dress events including Highland Games and ceilidhs.

Dress Sporrans - A fine fur sporran with a white metal or sterling silver cantles. To wear for full dress events including Balls, weddings or Burn’s Night Suppers

Full Mask Sporrans - Traditionally crafted in a variety of furs and fashioned with the animal’s head forming the top flap, these pieces often feature examples such as otter, badger, wildcat , musquash, pine marten and fox. Some of these species are rightly now protect species and protected by CITES laws. However, it is perfectly legal to wear a vintage sporran to honour the animal.

Goat Hair Sporrans - With a long goat hair front adorned with either a simple leather cantle as worn by Highland estate ghillies or fine silver cantles for dress wear.

Horsehair Sporrans - With a long horsehair front richly styled and finished with either a simple leather cantle, metal cantle, or delicate fine silver cantles choices often favoured by pipers, pipe bands, and for formal dress wear.

Regimental Hair sporrans - With a long horsehair or goats‑hair front for officers levee dress. Styled with a regimental badge and leather cantle for Other Ranks, and a metal cantle for pipers, SNCOs and officers in various regimental styles, often featuring battle honours and distinctive regimental devices.

For full details of our range of Scottish hand crafted and bespoke sporrans please visit the sporran department.

The first in an on going series of curated vintage Highland gentleman kilts, Highland bonnets, and sporran styles are the cornerstone of our collection. We take pride in presenting a diverse selection of vintage and antique Highland dress photographs, each capturing a unique glimpse into history.

From elegant studio portraits reflecting the Victorian and Edwardian eras to candid snapshots frozen in time at early 20th-century Highland Games and gatherings, our curated assortment brings the rich heritage of Scottish Highland attire to life.

For more details and more vintage Highland wear images please follow the link to the main website album

The exquisite Celtic knot design is intricately carved into the rich Blackwood hilt, showcasing the skilled craftsmanship of Thomas Ebbutt silversmiths.

The hilt is elegantly mounted with a cairngorm style paste stone stone, which is set in a claw set bezel, enhancing its visual appeal. Additionally, the finely detailed sterling silver mounts feature a beautifully rendered Celtic knot pattern that gracefully surrounds a striking shield design.

Thomas Kerr Ebbutt was a notable Scottish manufacturing jeweller, operating out of St David’s Square in the city of Edinburgh. He began his career in the jewellery industry in the year 1896, rapidly establishing himself as a skilled artisan. Unfortunately, his life was cut short when he passed away in 1921, leaving behind a legacy in the craft of jewellery making that echoed through the years.

From the very beginning, he had concentrated his efforts on creating exquisite Highland Dress accoutrements that reflected the rich cultural heritage of Scotland. His company continued to thrive in the industry until 1977, when it was ultimately purchased by the esteemed Hamilton & Inches. His sgian dubhs are not only highly prized but also widely respected for their exceptional beauty

Vintage 1958 Celtic Knot & Shield Thomas Ebbutt Silver Sgian Dubh

About The House of Labhran

The House of Labhran is a specialist dealer in fine Scottish Highland wear accessories, offering a curated selection that spans from the 19th century right through to the 21st century.

Situated in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, we operate as an online Highland wear design studio dedicated to providing bespoke and authentic pieces. Our services cater to discerning private clients from around the globe, ensuring that each item reflects the rich heritage and craftsmanship of traditional Highland dress.

We carefully source our ever-changing stock, which includes a diverse and high-quality selection of both new and vintage items. Our collection features exquisite silver sgian dubhs, authentic Scottish sporrans, traditional Scottish clan accoutrements, and rare Scottish antique silver kilt accessories.

There is always a quality in the vintage sealskin sporrans and this is a fine example of a 1900’s antique sporran with solid brass hinged cantle. Unlike later sealskin sporrans the earlier sporrans had a beautiful mottled pattern to the hide.

This one is a truly stunning example featuring a hinged brass cantle with cut out saltire pattern and oxblood under slip. The sporran cantle opens with a internal spring steel catch and a centre lift up knob in the traditional 18th century style. The pouch has three short hair tassels with brass caps on ox blood leather cords.

Antique 1900's Hinged Brass Cantle Sealskin Sporran

About The House of Labhran

The House of Labhran is a specialist dealer in fine Scottish Highland wear accessories, offering a curated selection that spans from the 19th century right through to the 21st century.

Situated in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, we operate as an online Highland wear design studio dedicated to providing bespoke and authentic pieces. Our services cater to discerning private clients from around the globe, ensuring that each item reflects the rich heritage and craftsmanship of traditional Highland dress.

We carefully source our ever-changing stock, which includes a diverse and high-quality selection of both new and vintage items. Our collection features exquisite silver sgian dubhs, authentic Scottish sporrans, traditional Scottish clan accoutrements, and rare Scottish antique silver kilt accessories.

Vintage sporran with a hinge Jacobite style silver plated sporran cantle featuring the classic 18th century bullseye design. Full opening back pouch.

Originally made by Highland wear outfitter Rowan & Co, Glasgow and owned by a member of the Incorporation of Bonnetmakers & Dyers of Glasgow. The original fur front was badly worn, so we carefully replaced the fur with a similar Musquash fur. The internal and back section of the bag are 100% original. The cantle plate has some minor wear, but we wanted the sporran to retain it’s original look so this has been carefully cleaned and not be over restored. The hinge and knob catches also had the bullseye pattern on them in addition to the bullseye pattern on the top edge of the cantle. This design element can be seen on a few of the original 18th century cantles.

Antique 1920’s Scottish Bullseye Square Topped Hinged Sporran

About The House of Labhran

The House of Labhran is a specialist dealer in fine Scottish Highland wear accessories, offering a curated selection that spans from the 19th century right through to the 21st century.

Situated in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, we operate as an online Highland wear design studio dedicated to providing bespoke and authentic pieces. Our services cater to discerning private clients from around the globe, ensuring that each item reflects the rich heritage and craftsmanship of traditional Highland dress.

We carefully source our ever-changing stock, which includes a diverse and high-quality selection of both new and vintage items. Our collection features exquisite silver sgian dubhs, authentic Scottish sporrans, traditional Scottish clan accoutrements, and rare Scottish antique silver kilt accessories.

A fine early 1900 fine antique sporran made by Inverness silversmith William Buchanan Taylor. The thistle cantle has a wonderful deep embossed design set with the rock crest of the MacNeil’s of Barra. set in the centre of the cantle. Marked on the rear of the cantle is the Inverness provincial silver hallmark ‘W.B.T.’ in a rectangular punch, for William Buchanan Taylor, and ‘INVss in a rectangular punch as the town mark for Inverness.

Edwardian Crested Inverness Provincial Silver Sporran

Edwardian Crested Inverness Provincial Silver Sporran

About The House of Labhran

The House of Labhran is a specialist dealer in fine Scottish Highland wear accessories, offering a curated selection that spans from the 19th century right through to the 21st century.

Situated in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, we operate as an online Highland wear design studio dedicated to providing bespoke and authentic pieces. Our services cater to discerning private clients from around the globe, ensuring that each item reflects the rich heritage and craftsmanship of traditional Highland dress.

We carefully source our ever-changing stock, which includes a diverse and high-quality selection of both new and vintage items. Our collection features exquisite silver sgian dubhs, authentic Scottish sporrans, traditional Scottish clan accoutrements, and rare Scottish antique silver kilt accessories.

Welcome to our new House of Labhran Tumblr page.

We specialise in handcrafted sgian dubhs, timeless sporrans, and bespoke Highland gentleman’s accessories — rooted in Scottish heritage and crafted to endure. All proudly made in Scotland by Scottish craftspeople supplying clients around the world.

We look forward to sharing blog posts, Highland history and a curated selection of Highland dress products.