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7 Jun 2021

Quirky decanters and drinking vessels

Written by Sarah Beattie, Curator – Ayrshire & Arran/Dumfries & Galloway
A faded sepia photograph of a group of people sitting around a table drinking. The logo of Naked Wines is in the bottom right of the image.
Detail from a photograph showing the 12th Duke of Hamilton and friends enjoying a glass of wine
Join us in raising a glass to some of our more unusual wine-related items from the collection at Brodick Castle.

Like many of us, the Hamilton family (who owned Brodick Castle for over 600 years) enjoyed nothing more than a glass – or two – of wine. However, unlike most of us, the Hamiltons were extremely wealthy, and as well as indulging in the finest wines, beers and spirits they purchased a large collection of quirky and unique decanters and drinking vessels to enjoy them.

Click on the images below to find out more about them.

A group of 19th-century owl-shaped drinking horns, with 9 small owls and 1 very tall one.The bases are made from a light-brown horn, and all have a silver owl head on top, with orange eyes. Dodo decanter at Brodick Castle Ornate silver-gilt beaker, engraved with harvesting scenes and the Zodiac sign for Virgo. A silver bowl, forming a cup, is held above the head of a silver woman, supported by her hands on either side. Her long gown forms the body of the cup. It is displayed against a plain grey background. A stirrup cup designed in the shape of a brown hare's head. The cup sits on top of its head. A silver wine label for a bottle, engraved with CHAMPAGNE A silver and gilded cup is formed into the shape of a small cannon, supported by a wooden frame on either side. It is displayed against a plain grey background. A tall silver bottle, with its body wrapped in a tight basket-like material. It has a silver stopper arranged just above the top of the bottle.

You can see all these items and more in our collections at Brodick Castle.

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