Sobieski kilt

Victorian

This hard-tartan box pleated Stuart kilt in the Duke of Rothesay tartan and is said to have been worn by the Sobieski brothers. The tartan is their own design. It is unusual as it is a very early example of a sewn box pleated kilt and it is the earlies example of this pattern which first made its appearance in 1842. The Sobieski brothers modelled themselves as scholars of Highland dress, weaponry and Gaelic culture. They claimed to be the grandchildren of Prince Charles Edward Stuart. From the 1820s the Sobieski - Stuart brothers were responsible for many of the tartans now accepted as being the “old and true tartans” of many clans. John Sobieski Stolberg Stuart and his brother Charles Edward Stuart claimed to be the legitimate grandsons of King Charles III. They claimed that Queen Louise and King Charles III had a son who was handed over to the captain of an English warship to protect him from assassination attempts. The Sobieski brothers claimed to be sons of this child. They fooled many in society. In reality, the Sobieski – Stuarts were born in Wales to English parents as John Carter Allen (1795–1872) and Charles Manning Allen (1802–1880). From 1847 they lost favour after their reputations were damaged by the press.

Material: wool

Size: L 675 mm

Sources: Carmichael Collection