SCD Promotional Badges and Logos

During the mid to latter part of the 20thC (but not exclusively so) many Scottish Country Dance groups, and Scottish Societies who included dancing among their activities, produced distinctive “button-hole” or “lapel” type badges. These usually indicated the location of the group in the world and often included a logo indicative of the location.  They were intended for the use of the members who would often display them attached to their particular dancing attire. They were also used as souvenir gifts which could be purchased by visitors to events organised by the groups. The older badges were diecast and enamelled in (often) bright colours and generally they were most attractive and appealing items of self-promoting “jewellery”. The badges of later date tended to be of the ubiquitous plastic button style and were not nearly so attractive and these were usually produced to mark a major anniversary of the group.

The Archive has in its collection several of the badges from various parts of the World (with a strong representation from Australia!) and a selection are shown below. 

The Archive has little or no provenance for these items and if any member can add anything, that would be most useful. In particular the two badges shown below are unidentified and any information about them would be welcome. The badge on the left has a clue! – engraved at the bottom is an outline of the island of Cyprus.

Contact us at archive@rscds.org with any information or questions!