Quaichs

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A quaich is a traditional Scottish drinking vessel. The silver-mounted wooden quaich on the left is dated 1692. The wooden quaich on the right is set with a silver coin of Charles II.

The inside of the silver-mounted quaich is engraved with a crown and the initials 'JR' for King James VII (II of England). The handles are engraved 'BH' for the owner.

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.

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• Online ID: 000-100-002-792-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.SJA 23
• Date: 1692
  17th century
  
• Material: Wod with silver mounting
  Wood bound cane, silver. Inscription: Silver plate inside: a crown / J R; handles; B.H.; 1692
  Quaich
  Quaich
  
• Dimensions: 51 mm H x 175 mm W
  55 mm H x 170 mm W
  
• What: Quaich
  Quaich
  
• Subject: Quaichs (NMAS Classification)
  Quaichs (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who: Charles II (Coin on object)
  
• Where:
• Event:
• Description: Silver mounted wooden quaich engraved with a crown and JR on a silver plate inside and B.H. on the handles, dated 1692
  Wooden quaich with three handles, set with a silver coin of Charles II
  
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