Figure 1.--This Carte de Visite portrait of two unidentified brothers who look to be 3-5 years of age. They are shown wearing eagle feather adornments with heir Balmorals. The younger boy has a chin strap. The eagle feathers were usully reserved for Higland oitfits and we do not see them very commonly in England. They are wearing them with regular suits done up with huge Fauntleroy ruffled collars. Notice how they are worn with the Balmorals cocked back abd to the right. The CDV is undated, but looks like the 1890s to us. The photographer was the Penton Studio in London.
The Balmoral is a traditional Scottish cap--refrred to as a bonnet in Scotland. It was once rerred to as the Kilmarnock bonnet. It looks to us a basically a tam ot tam o'shanter. The name probably changed after Prince Albert purchased the Nalmoral estate for Queen Victoria. It is worn with both formal and informal Higland kilt outfits. It was also worn with non-Scottish outfits, mostly dress outfits. With Highland outfits, the Balmoral was traditionall worn with an eagle feather. It was one of two Scottish bonnets. The Glengary seem to have been the most popular. There are indications that the Balmoral to the 16th century, perhaps earlier. We are not sure, however, when they were first worn in England. We see them in mid-19th century in early photographic images. The Balmporal can be done in knitted amterial or soft wool with a flatish crown. Early Balmorals often had voluminous crowns. We still see this in the 19th entury. Modern Balmorals are more modest affairs. They can be done in various colors, but dark blue, black, or lovat green are the most common. Streamer ribbons are attached to the back of the band . The head band was originally used to secure the bonnet tightly, but are more decorative in modern caps. Streamer reasons are often worn hanging from the back of the cap. More formal Balmorals might hv a regimental or clan badge on the left side. They are pinned toa a silk or grosgrain ribbon cockade, commonly done in black, red, or white. The Balmoral and Glengarry is coonly worn cocked to the right to display these emblems. This became conventiona; so that even Balmorals without the emblems are worn in this way. The center of the crown featured a pom calld a toorie, traditionally done in red--perhaps a French influence. We se them with a diced bandm but this is more Scottlish Highland or militry Balmporals rather than English boys' wear.
