Object Historical Context

The kilt has an interesting historical story. As was mentioned in my previous post, the kilt originally dates back to the 16^th century Ireland, but in a much larger incarnation which was used as a full body garment rather than just as a skirt. The more modern kilt arose sometime later in the 17^th or 18^th century. The interesting thing about the kilt is that as an object itself, it was not primarily owned by a certain group or class of people. Rather the pattern or tartan displayed the wearers social status/clan allegiance. My particular kilt was made for my grandfather for his marriage to my grandmother in 1948. As it was made especially for that event, the history of that particular kilt begins with my grandfather. This particular kilt, was commissioned in Ireland and sent over to California, where my Grandparents were wed. Likewise, having originated in the Highlands/Lowlands of Ireland and Scotland, the kilt eventually made its way over to North America as with many British traditions. The contemporary North American kilts however differ from their original use as a signifier of clan allegiance, except in certain cases. Mainly we find the wearing of kilts relegated to Irish and Scottish cultural events such as the highland games, culture fairs, or like in the case of my grandfather, marriage. The kilt holds multiple meanings for the wearer, as well as for the spectator, as it were. While my particular kilt was made for a wedding, that meaning was specific to my grandfathers use of it. Looking at it as someone who did not know its history, it just appears to be a kilt. The wearing of a kilt does automatically cause one to assume that the wearer is of Irish, Scottish, or British descent, so in this way there is some inherent meaning which the kilt has outside of its owner. Possibly the most prominent descriptor which a kilt holds is in its tartan. The pattern a kilt has can describe its owner's social status, class, family history/clan membership, and hometown to name a few. My grandfather's was made of the Cork tartan, since that was his place of birth. I have yet to find mention of a specific wedding tartan, but further investigation may prove one, or many, exist. Interestingly, there is now also a diasporic Irish tartan, which will be discussed in greater detail in my future paper as it is directly related to the nature of this course.