Of conventional form, the deep round bowl raised on splayed foot
sided by shaped lugs with undulating scroll and dot engraved border,
each bearing an engraved inscription :
The gift of John Tait to James Aitken
Marks : 4 marks, T&H twice, and Glasgow town mark twice (see below)
Condition : very good with minor nick to footrim; small invisible
silver solder repairs to each handle joint;
without splits to the bowl
The quaich is a Scottish traditional "friendship" drinking vessel.
Its probable origin was the Baltic region, where "mazers" (large drinking bowls) were built
in the staved manner from the
medieval period.
Early quaichs were either carved from a single
piece of wood, or made by "feathering" together
about 12 or 13
alternating light and dark staves (as above).
These were then
held together by bands of willow or silver.
Fine
quaichs were also made of solid silver.
These vessels
generally had - and retain today -
two or three short projecting
handles called "lugs", the best of the wooden lugs covered in
silver.
The quaich was likely introduced into the Scottish Highlands in the
early 16th century,
but not in use in Edinburgh and Glasgow until
the late 17th century.
The name derives from the Gaelic
word for cup - "Cuach" -
pronounced like "qwaygh", and probably only properly spoken by a
true Scotsman.
Its favored use was for whiskey (spelled 'whisky' in Scotland) or brandy.
5-7/8” width across handles / 3.1 oz.
SOLD
#6671
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