Jacobite relic. An important Scottish wooden punch bowl, pro...

Hammer

£10,000

Jacobite relic. An important Scottish wooden punch bowl, probably Inner Hebrides, mid 18th c, the silver rim c1800 and inscribed 'Given by Prince Charles Edward to one of the Macleod’s of Raasay during his wanderings in the Isle of Skye 1746', the bowl of dark stained Scots pine or other softwood and boldly carved overall with thistles and scrolling foliage centred by crown, cross and 'garter', with lower border of Celtic knot-work, the demi lion handles carved en ronde bosse, 17cm h, 37cm over handles

Provenance: Charles Campbell MacLeod (1879-1955); thence by descent to the present vendor

The inscribed silver rim is of slightly later date than the bowl, which is clearly mid-18th century. The rim would appear to be of the late 18th or early 19th century and was presumably added by a MacLeod proud of their ancestor's Jacobite sympathies. Charles Campbell MacLeod's male-line lineage is as follows: Son of Murdoch (1831-1909), son of Dr Alexander (1788-1854) (Dr Alexander MacLeod, 'an Dotair ban'), son of Dr Murdoch of Kilpheader [c.1745]-(1811) son of Norman of Rigg [b.c.1700] (dead by 1749/50), son of Norman [b.c.1670] illegitimate son of Murdoch, Tutor of Raasay [b.c.1630](dead by 1688), fourth son of Alexander of Raasay (c.1595-c.1630), son of Malcolm Og of Raasay [b.c.1565])killed 1611), son of Malcolm Garbh of Raasay (c.1535-c.1605), son of Alexander of Raasay [b.c.1495](k.c.1544), son of Malcolm of Raasay [b.c.1460](d.c.1515), son of John (first MacLeod) of Raasay [c.1430-c.1495], son of Alexander (first MacLeod) of Gairloch [b.c.1391], son of Malcolm Beag [b.c.1362](k.c.1406), son of Torcall Og (first MacLeod) of Lewis [b.c.1320], son of Murdoch [b.c.1285], son of Norman [b.c.1250], son of Leod [b.c.1215], eponym of the MacLeods. 

The Dr Murdoch MacLeod of Eyre [b.c.1722] associated with Prince Charles Edward Stuart in 1746 was not the second but the third son of Malcolm Camachasach of Raasay (c.1690-1761), son of Alexander am mac a b'oige of Raasay [b.c.1658](d.c.1696), son of Malcolm a b'oige [b.c.1628](drowned 1671), elder brother of Murdoch, Tutor of Raasay and third son of Alexander of Raasay (c.1595-c.1630). Dr Murdoch is described as Raasay's third son in the contemporary witness of The Lyon in Mourning. Edited by Henry Paton, The Lyon in Mourning was published by the Scottish History Society in three volumes (Publications of the Scottish History Society [series 1] volumes 20, 21 & 22), with Volumes I & II being published in 1895 and Volume III being published in 1896. See Volume I page 130 and Volume II pages 6, 70 & 71.
The wife of Norman MacLeod of Rigg [b.c.1700](dead by 1749-50) is said to have been "Julia MacLeod who is further said to have been of the Raasay family" - MGC IV (1974 edition) page 90.

Andrew P MacLeod believes that Julia MacLeod may have been a sister of Prince Charles' guide through Skye in 1745, Captain Malcolm MacLeod of Eyre & Brae (b.1711). Captain Malcolm's relationship to the Raasay family has been misrepresented in most publications, but he was a son of John Og in Eyre [b.c.1665], illegitimate son of John Garbh of Raasay [b.c.1624](drowned 1671), second son of Alexander of Raasay (c.1595-c.1630). Published accounts often give Captain Malcolm a sister Julia who was supposedly the wife of William MacLeod of Claigan, but they are mistaken. William MacLeod of Claigan (later of Leiterungbeg) was married to Florence MacKinnon and died with 1711/1712, leaving a young family. Julia MacLeod was in fact one of the ten daughters of John MacLeod of Raasay [b.c.1716](d.1786), son of Malcolm Camachasach of Raasay (c.1690-1761), and she was the wife of William of Claigan's grandson, Olaus MacLeod of Bharkisaig (on record 1795-1801), to whom she bore four daughters born in the first decade of the nineteenth century.

This intriguing bowl perhaps presents more questions than are capable of being answered however, it has long been regarded in the family as a precious relic. It is entirely unpublished and does not appear in The Lyon in Mourning.

Mellors & Kirk gratefully acknowledges the extensive genealogical research undertaken by the professional genealogists Andrew P MacLeod and Norma MacLeod