John Brown's Highland outfit

Victorian

This is the Highland outfit Queen Victoria (1819 – 1901) presented to her trusted Scottish servant, John Brown (1826 - 1883), on the occasion of her daughter, Princess Louise’s marriage. John Brown was the Queen’s personal servant at Balmoral and their special relationship is well documented. He once saved her life by stopping a runaway pony and cart. The pieces are all traditional dress accoutrements, but show the influence of Victorian taste in their elaborate design. They are inscribed “V.R. to J.B. 21st March 1871”. On that date the Princess Louise was married at Windsor to the Marquis of Lorne, later the 9th Duke of Argyll. The outfit includes a silver mounted sporran, dirk in a scabbard, sword in a scabbard, Sgian/Sgean dubh in sheath, two black leather belts (one with silver buckle), a powder horn, plaid brooch. Images in the gallery show Brown possibly wearing this Highland outfit.

Material: various

Size: sporran: L 380 mm x W 260 mm sword: L 930 mm x W 150 mm (hilt) dirk: L 435 mm x W 50 mm belt: L 600 mm x W 90 mm brooch: Diam 105 mm powderhorn: L 300 mm x H 80 mm sgian dubh: L 200 mm x W 3.5 mm (hilt) belt: L 430 mm x W 65 mm

Sources: Hepburn Bequest