New Jacobite gems go on show in museum
The West Highland Museum in Fort William already boasts a highly impressive collection of Jacobite items, but a new, long-term loan from the famous Drambuie Collection looks set to prove a major draw.
Owned by distilling firm William Grant & Sons, the items on loan – many of them glassware – are in a new exhibition that was officially opened last night (Wednesday) in a special event at the museum in Cameron Square.
Glassware was prized by Jacobite supporters with many pieces engraved with secret symbols of support for the prince and his cause.
Among the new items on display are an extremely rare 18th century glass depicting a five-coloured enamelled portrait of Bonnie Prince
Charlie.
The glass is believed to be one of possibly only three such objects made.
There is also a 1730 firing glass – a small shot-style glass with a thick bottom – which was raised in a toast before being cracked on the table, with the noise said to sound like musket fire.
It is engraved with an oak tree, the emblem of the Stuart restoration, and the motto Revirescit or ‘it revives’.
And there is a mid- to late-18th century ormolu mounted Jacobite portrait enamel snuff box.
It would appear this snuff box was originally a ‘hidden portrait’ example which had a simple possibly florally decorated domed cover hinged to hide the portrait of Prince Charles.
These are well recorded, although not common, and were favourites of Jacobite society post-1745.
A Jacobite host could give his friends a pinch of snuff and choose, depending on the company, whether or not to unveil the hidden nature of the portrait.
There is even a small part of the mast of the boat in which the fugitive prince crossed from Skye to Loch Nevis on July 4 1746.
William Grant & Sons acquired the Drambuie Collection after it bought the brand in 2014.
The Drambuie Collection was built up by the McKinnon family, which owned Drambuie for 100 years.
Legend tells that Bonnie Prince Charlie – or one of his followers from France – gave a McKinnon clansman the recipe for the liquor during the 1745 rising.
West Highland Museum curator Vanessa Martin said: ‘We’re hoping it might be possible to have these items from the Drambuie Collection on loan for five to 10 years.
‘Items from the Jacobite period are always of great interest and the Outlander television series has certainly boosted that.
‘We are delighted to have this chance to show off these items from the Drambuie Collection of which there is much more.
‘We were given the pick of what we wanted to take and exhibit.’