MacMillan Cross - hunting scene

2 1/2" x 7/8" - 62 x 22.5 mm

Kilmory Chapel, Knapdale,Scotland
15th Century

From stylistic evidence, this cross would seem to date from the late fifteenth century. This would make sense as the man in the hunting scene is Alexander MacMillan, Fifth of Knap. As a child, he escaped the 1430 "Palm Sunday Massacre" in Lochaber, where his father and most of his near kin were killed. He married Erca McNeil, daughter of the Constable of Castle Sween and became Constable himself during the mid-1470's.

The cross has the earliest depiction of a man in full kilted dress. The chief is shown with kilt and an ax chasing a deer which is going into the thicket at the top of the cross.

The bronze version of this kilt pin looks good on the MacMillan dress and hunting tartans.

Clan MacMillan website: http://www.clanmacmillan.org/index-2.html