A tartan very similar to this can be seen in a portrait by Sir Henry Raeburn of Niel Gow (1717-1807) the famous Perthshire fiddler (see Possibly the basis for the design of later tartans.
The Gows or MacGowans were associated with the MacDonalds and the Clan Chattan. Gow is Gaelic for Smith meaning blacksmith. Gow's father was a 'plaid weaver' (Sutton/Carr). There apparently is a sample in the Highland Society of London Collection.