Clan MacLean Tartan And BattleAxe Crest Tea Towel

Family tartan for the MacLean Clan with the battleaxe crest. “Some Maclean battleaxes (in the various crests) have hooks on the end, and some have a vertical point. It would seem either is proper. Sir Lachlan’s father, Lord Maclean had reasoned that the hooked axe suggested that either the Macleans were shepherds, or they fought against mounted warriors. Macleans were not noteable farmers, and they fought in ships, or on foot, (mostly) in the Highlands against others on foot. Logic suggested to him, - and was good enough for us, that the straight point made sense, and was at least as proper as the hooked version(s). Why the cypress and laurel? In ancient times at (Olympic) Games the wreath of victory was made of laurel; the wreath of death of cypress; thus the Maclean crest(s) has a branch of both. Two Maclean mottos, - Altera Merces, and Vincere vel Mori, - both can imply Victory or Death, or To Conquer or to Die! ! Altera Merces, more precisely means “either rewards”, and has also been translated as “Reward is Secondary”. Altera Merces is the accepted motto of the Clan as a whole. Vincere Vel Mori is used by the Lochbuie Maclaines, and Dochgarroch Macleans.” Battleaxe crest history provided by Ian Maclean If you would like another tartan not shown here, please feel free to message me. Please provide the STA Reference number for the tartan pattern you would like if possible.