Silver quaich made in Edinburgh

Add to album

A quaich is a traditional Scottish drinking vessel. This silver example, dated 1891-2, was made in Edinburgh by J. Crichton. It is set in the centre with a 1707 Queen Anne sixpence minted in Edinburgh.

The two quaich handles or 'lugs' are engraved - one with the monogrammed initials, 'ISC' and the other with the Campbell arms within shields.

The name 'quaich' is from 'cuach', the Gaelic word for cup. Its ancestor was the scallop shell, in which drams of whisky were taken. Quaichs were traditionally made out of wood, but in the 17th century craftsmen began to make them out of silver.

Record details

To search on related items, click any underlined text below.

• Online ID: 000-100-001-138-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.MEQ 1337
• Date: 1891 - 1892
  1891-2
  
• Material: Silver; solid metal lugs. Inscription: J.C; thistle; castle [Edinburgh]; K [gothic]; on lugs: ISC [monogram, within a shield at one end] / Campbell arms [in a shield at other end]
  Quaich
  
• Dimensions: 34 mm H x 114 mm L
  
• What: Quaich
  
• Subject: Gold and silver (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who: Campbell (Probable owner)
  J. Crichton, Edinburgh (Silversmith)
  
• Where: Scotland, Midlothian, Edinburgh
  
• Event:
• Description: Two-lugged silver quaich with a 1707 Queen Anne sixpence set in the base, by J. Crichton, Edinburgh, 1891 - 1892, the lugs inscribed "ISC" in monogram and with Campbell arms, within shields
  
• References:
• Translations:
• Related Records: