- Quaichs and Celtic Knotwork
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- Presentation
The word "quaich" is a Scots rendering of the Gaelic "cuach", which means drinking bowl or cup. It is a flat little bowl standing on a rim with two or more ears jutting out horizontally from the lip. The placing of the ears suggests the act of handing on the cup. It is essentially wide and rather shallow with no great capacity.
It probably began as a wooden or horn drinking cup, although its earlier stages are obscure. In the National Museum, there is an example in marble. During the seventeenth century, goldsmiths turned their attention to the quaich and by the second half of the century, quaichs were being made almost entirely in silver. Many were engraved with patterns and decorations and had inscriptions written on them.
We are happy to take on commissions for Quaichs and Celtic Knotwork. The combination of form and function makes our pots ideal as presents for people who like useful gifts.
- Quaichs and Celtic Knotwork
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- The Classic Quaich
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The Classic Quaich is glazed in our main satin finish glaze and then the rims and knotwork lugs are coloured blue, black or purple.
- Quaichs and Celtic Knotwork
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- The Knotwork Quaich
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The Knotwork Quaich is a classic quaich with a ring of knotwork sprayed into the centre of the bowl.
- Quaichs and Celtic Knotwork
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- The Birnam Quaich
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The Birnam Quaich has a completely differant type of glaze finish.
We were trying to create a matt glaze and during the process of tests, we discovered this recipe resulting in a interesting finish - it was as if the glaze had a life of its own. After a few additions we were happy with the result, which varies on every pot but has a similarity of looking like branches on trees.
The combination of the movement of the glaze and the tree-like features gave the glaze its name - Birnam - after the moving wood in Shakespeare's "MacBeth". It is a very artistic glaze, which represents the ancient nature of the quaich.
- Quaichs and Celtic Knotwork
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- The Clan Crest Quaich
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The Clan Crest Quaich is a classic quaich with a clan crest transfer fired into the centre of the bowl. The crests are mainly in a gold colour.
The following clans are available:
Bruce, Cameron, Colquhoun, Gordon, MacAulay, MacDonald, MacGillivay, MacGregor, MacInnes, MacKay, MacKenzie, MacKinnon, MacLean, MacLeod, MacNab, MacPherson, MacRae, Morrison, Nicolson/ MacNicol, Nicolson of Scorrybreac, Sinclair, Stewart.
- Quaichs and Celtic Knotwork
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- Quaich Pomanders
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Quaich Pomanders are any of the range of quaichs with an intricate pewter filigree top cut in the Celtic Knotwork style.
- Quaichs and Celtic Knotwork
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- Celtic Knotwork Range
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The Knotwork range is based on the intricate knotwork drawn by the monks on Iona when they were writing out the gospels in Latin under the leadership of St Columba from the 6th century onwards. They illustrated their work with knotwork and animal designs.
Alan's interest in Celtic knotwork led him to design a small range of pots which have embossed knotwork around the edge. When these are fired in a celadon glaze the glaze pools in to the knotwork and subtly highlights it. The plates are well suited to taking a transfer to commemorate an event or a place. Special commissions could include particular pictures and text.
Please contact us for more details on commemorative finishes.
- Quaichs and Celtic Knotwork
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- Pomander Bowls
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Pomander Bowls are the knotwork bowl with a knotwork pewter lid like the quaich pomanders. Available in a variety of colours.
They can come with a pewter top of Celtic knotwork. The small trinket pots have a knotwork transfer applied around them. The larger trinket pots have a curling stone shape, which looks so good on it's own that we often spray a single colour onto it so as not to detract from the shape. It also looks good in the tartan colours.