Why are Prince Charlie Buttons Square?
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- čas přidán 28. 01. 2020
- Prince Charlie coatees as well as Argyll jackets and vests nearly always come with ornate, square, silver buttons. But why? Where did these square buttons come from? And what does what does clan na gael mean?
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As a Scot living in the UK (likely to be slightly sceptical of Americans trying to be more Scottish than the Scots) I’m actually very impressed with these two fellows. Just genuine members of our diaspora. And quite knowledgeable and giving advice that is very much in tune with what we do in the UK. If you follow their counsel, you will feel totally at ease if ever coming back to the wee bonnie land
Thanks for the kind words!
I have a prince charlie with silver buttons. Have fun keeping them polished.
That was a good question and discussion. Thanks guys.
As a recommendation for when you make these videos... maybe tell us what tartan you're wearing to help someone like me look it up. I love both those tartans, especially seeing them in finished form.
I always learn something new watching your videos. Another great one!
Thanks folks! Always educational!!!
@eric - the use of buttons as money in medieval Europe is well documented. Metal buttons, in particular, were not used so much as closures as they were for decoration and only people with money could afford them. So, yes, if a traveler, for instance, ran out of money, plucking a button or two off of a garment was acceptable as a payment. I am told that Italians still describe the rooms where powerful leaders meet as stanze dei bottoni, “rooms of the buttons,” because in medieval times, only the wealthy and powerful had them.
I think your guess about how they became popular is probably correct. Someone found one and said, "This is Scottish AF!" and it just became traditional. I'm guessing that the original may have come from a military uniform; diamond and square buttons were quite common on them at one time.
Aesthetically, it just makes sense, to me, because basically there are squares all over a kilt. So then having square buttons up top seems to kind of go with the shapes being presented in the bottom.
I wish someone would remaster the buttons to improve the quality and as Brian Rowlands pointed out , correct the spelling . I was in Norway last year and I asked my friends to wear their Norwegian national costumes for some photos of us together . The quality of their costumes is amazing with a bag load of silver jewelry ( both men and women's ) to go with it . The buttons are works of art and while more expensive than the standard highland buttons we use it shows how badly ours are made .
Yes....I agree with you . I should just search out silver buttons for highland dress . Most of my kilt pins are silver for the same reason although I have a few good looking pewter ones . I won't be getting a silver cantle full dress sporran though !
Would they be called pressed in pans buttons? If sew 🪡, possibly they used stumps, skillets and hammers to make them! I just imagine a button shape on a ancient skillet somewhere, that was used to beat the buttons.
Off topic but I wanted to ask if it was possible to get a Watson tartan in muted colors (more like the colors that come from plants and natural dyes)?
Would it be acceptable to replace the square buttons on a Argyll jacket with the buttons from my Marine Corps Dress Blues. I am getting married in June and I want to incorporate some USMC items into my Kilt kit for the wedding.
I would say yes. I am unsure of US Military dress codes, but I can't see why you wouldn't be able to swap the buttons. If it works for you do it mate!
If it's a wedding it's your day and entirely up to you. It sounds like a good little special detail and would mean a lot to you, so go for it.
Square (actually designed as diamond-shaped) buttons were used on the double-breasted tunics that Scottish Highland Regiments were issued in 1855, while many of the battalions were still stationed in the Crimea.These diamond buttons were adorned with the Regimental number or symbol. In 1856, new tunics with round buttons were issued, but Regimental Pipers may have continued wearing them. If you Google "crimean veteran highlanders" you'll find some great early photos of Scottish soldiers wearing these doublets with the diamond buttons. If there was a precedent for this shape of button earlier in Scotland's history, I don't know. It may have just been a fashionable Victorian thing that proved impractical for soldiering. As for the Gaelic script found on the Prince Charlie buttons, it could have been copied later from a US Civil War button, but it doesn't match any of the Scottish regimental buttons.
The words should probably read "Clann nan Gael ri guaillibh a chéile" but have become progressively corrupted by person or persons unfamiliar with old Gaelic letter forms with the resulting errors producing a phrase which is mostly virtually meaningless. 'Ri guaillibh a chéile' is an idiom roughly equivalent to 'shoulder to shoulder' or 'shoulder to shoulder together.'
I have read that as well . It would be great if the buttons were remastered to improve the quality and correct the spelling .
are long johns ok under a kilt ?
or is ther a alternativ for extrem cold weather?
nice videos :)
Traditional Arts... I guess someone had to give him an answer . LOL Depending on where felix lives though there is a limit for bare skin in northern climates . My limit is -20 C and below that starts to get uncomfortable and that depends on the wind chill as well . But long johns.....no !
Truibhs are what you wear if it's too cold to wear one without anything underneath
@Traditional Arts International as I said. You would wear truibhs if it's too cold to wear a kilt without anything underneath. Directly meaning that they are mutually exclusive options, the kilt or truibhs
I know a pipe band that will take thermal underwear and cut the legs down to wear under the kilt during cold weather. So, it is done.