Large Celtic silver quaich

A good quality silver quaich decorated with a Celtic weave pattern on each lug incorporating entwined dragons. The bowl is hand chased with a band and shields that also depict entwined dragons.

Originating in the Scottish Highlands centuries ago, a quaich - or 'cuach' in the Gaelic - is a traditional Scottish shallow drinking cup with two or three handles known as lugs. It is also known as the Scottish loving cup or cup of friendship, with whiskey being a quaich's most welcome partner.

Over time the quaich became the favourite drinking cup throughout Scotland, originally made from wood or horn. In the seventeenth century, silver, brass or pewter quaichs started to appear - making the cups fancy enough to be used among the fashionable upper classes of Edinburgh and Glasgow.