Lot 352
A CARVED OAK, MOTHER OF PEARL AND SILVER MOUNTED QUAICH
LAURENCE URQUHART, EDINBURGH 1828
Scottish Silver & Applied Arts
Auction: 16 August 2017 at 12:00 BST
Description
maker's mark worn, the body formed as twin eagles with wings intertwined, the heads forming handles, the interior of bowl lined with silver and with mother of pearl base, the underside of the base inscribed PART OF A VERY ANCIENT COFFIN OF BLACK OAK 14 FEET LONG FOUND UNDER A CAIRN IN ABERDEENSHIRE - FOR AN ACCOUNT OF WHICH SEE EDIN ANNUAL REGISTER FOR 1810 VOL 3 PART 2ND PAGE 538
Dimensions
Width across handles: 14.5cm
Footnote
Note: The discovery of a 14 foot long black oak coffin is well recorded at the spot under which a Cairn had previously stood. The discovery left more questions than answers as no grave goods were found (apart from a broken pot). There was evidence of burning and more unusually no other excavated Cairn had been found with a coffin underneath.