Lot 402
THE MACDONALD OF SLEAT HIGHLAND REGALIA
Scottish Works of Art & Whisky
Auction: 17 August 2022 at 11:00 BST
Description
comprising waist belt and cross / word belt, the waist belt buckle of rectangular outline with rope twist border, the matted ground applied with gilt armorial with acanthus mantling, the wait belt of black velvet and leather-backed, the cross/sword belt of black velvet applied with full armorial to shoulder and with matted silver buckle and mounts, the lower mount with applied Macdonald crest
Dimensions
Waist buckle 10.5cm wide, 6.5oz
Footnote
Heraldry: The arms of the Chiefs of the MacDonald clan
Arms: Quarterly 1st Argent a lion rampant gules 2nd Or a dexter arm in armour couped in fess proper the hand holding a cross crosslet fitchy gules 3rd Or a lymphad oars and sails sable flags flying gules 4th Vert a salmon naiant proper
Crest: A dexter arm in armour couped in fess proper the hand holding a cross crosslet fitchy gules
Motto: Per mare per terras (By sea and land)
Note: Although unmarked, the style of manufacture of this buckle and the preceding sporran sits comfortably within the early 19th century. This offers two possibilities for the original owner/commissioner of this fine highland dress suite; Sir Alexander Wentworth MacDonald, 2nd Baron Macdonald and 10th Baronet of Sleat (9th December 1773 – 19th June 1824); or his brother Sir Godfrey MacDonald, 3rd Baron Macdonald and 11th Baronet of Sleat (14th October 1775 – 13th October 1832). It seems more likely that Sir Godfrey had these commissioned when he took over the titles and chiefdom of the clan from his brother, who had died without issue, in 1824.