Browse Items (491 total)

A fine example of a mid-18th century drinking glass with an air twist stem, engraved with Jacobite symbols. Drinking toasts to the exiled Stuart dynasty was an important part of Jacobite secret culture. Jacobites would often pass their glass over a…

This rare and exquisite memorial tie pin was commissioned by Queen Victoria (1819 – 1901) on the death of John Brown (1826 – 1883). The Queen gifted it to Brown’s relations. The Queen had a close relationship with Brown, her favourite servant. After…

This is the Highland outfit Queen Victoria (1819 – 1901) presented to her trusted Scottish servant, John Brown (1826 - 1883), on the occasion of her daughter, Princess Louise’s marriage. John Brown was the Queen’s personal servant at Balmoral and…

Jon Schueler's studio at Romasaig near Mallaig. This was Schueler’s Scottish home and studio which was formerly an old schoolhouse in Glasnacardoch, a mile outside Mallaig, Inverness-shire.

The iconic Lochaber axe has been included in the gallery because it is still an important symbol of the area today, even appearing on the West Highland Museum’s logo. The Lochaber axe is a long-handled battle-axe used by the Highland foot soldier.…

The iconic Lochaber axe has been included in the gallery because it is still an important symbol of the area today, even appearing on the West Highland Museum’s logo. The Lochaber axe is a long-handled battle-axe used by the Highland foot soldier.…

Tortoiseshell framed spectacles with a leather case said to have belonged to Lord Lovat. Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat, (1667 – 1747) was chief of clan Fraser, and a Jacobite nicknamed the ‘Old Fox’ for his double-dealings, violent feuds and changes…

This is a MacInnes Massey all metal ice axe. The Massey was one of the first metal-shafted ice axes manufactured in Britain. These ice axes revolutionised the sport of mountaineering. It was invented by Glencoe resident Hamish MacInnes (1930 – 2020).…

This map shows the estates belonging to Cameron of Lochiel that were forfeited after the 1745 uprising. Lochiel had led Clan Cameron throughout the Jacobite Rising and escaped into exile with Prince Charles Edward Stuart in 1746. Following the defeat…

Three examples of portraits after the engraving by Robert Strange (1721 -1792). Strange’s engraving was based on the Allan Ramsay (1713 – 1784) portrait of Prince Edward Stuart painted in Edinburgh in 1745. Miniatures like these were copied and…

This trooping helmet belonged to James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose (1612-1650). Montrose was a Scottish nobleman, poet and soldier. He initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I…

Musettes are small, elegant bagpipes that were fashionable in French court circles in the 17th and 18th centuries. This set of French bellows-type bagpipes known as a musette are extraordinary as they may once have belonged to Prince Charles Edward…

This is a series of four panoramic photographs documenting Princess Margaret's visit to Fort William in 1965. They are important to our photographic collection, not only because they recorded a royal visit, but because they were taken by pioneering…

This beautifully decorated clarsach, or Scottish harp is in the style of the Queen Mary harp, the original design of which dates from the reign of Mary Queen of Scots. This grand instrument is part of our Highland Life collection and the carved wood…

This is a very fine portrait of Clementina Walkinshaw (1720–1802), by renowned Scottish artist Allan Ramsay (1713 – 1784). Clementina became the mistress of Prince Charles Edward Stuart (1720 - 1788) in Scotland during the 1745 Rising. They…

Portrait of Donald Cameron of Lochiel (1695–1748), ‘The Gentle Lochiel' in a gilt frame. Although this is a copy of a George Chalmers (1720–c.1791) original made 20 years after Lochiel’s death it is an important painting as very few images of the…

A beautifully carved powder horn with a detailed Celtic design. Powder horns were generally made from horn and used to store gunpowder. This particular object is of great importance as by tradition it belonged to the Gaelic poet, Alasdair…

This powder horn has been showcased in the gallery because it is so beautifully decorative. The horn has been carved in a deeply incised rose design displaying the rose, the date 1698, and initials R.F. The stopper is made from wood carved to the…

This fragment of plaid was gifted to the Museum in 1973 as part of a Bequest from Dr Charles Hepburn, a collector of Jacobite memorabilia. The sett matches the pattern of a section of plaid from a tartan at Moy Hall. The Moy Hall plaid was given to…

Royal Stewart sett hard tartan trews with integral 'feet'. Traditional trews were not trousers, but long hose which were worn high up to the waist. These are said to have belonged to Prince Charles Edward Stuart (1720 - 1788). The provenance has yet…

A pale green striped silk waistcoat that has been embroidered with rosebuds and silver thread. It is a textile with a fascinating history. The waistcoat once belonged to Prince Charles Edward Stuart (1720 - 1788). It was quite common for Charles to…

Queen Victoria (1819 - 1901) certainly had a love of horse riding and was an accomplished equestrienne. This gold mounted riding whip belonged to the Queen and was gifted to the museum through the Hepburn Bequest in 1973.

This heavy brass sporran cantle with an incised pattern once belonged to the legendary Highland outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor (1671 - 1734). Tradition has it that this sporran was given to him by a wee girl who brought him food while he was in hiding…

This an early modern shoulder-belt plate that was found in 2015 by metal detectorists in the deserted township of Alisary. It is very rare because it is engraved "Moidart Volunteers" and little evidence remains of their existence. By 1800…

Silver quaichs are used by Scots to take a wee dram of whisky. This silver quaich has a fascinating story to tell and is said to have been drunk from by royalty on four occasions. Tradition says Prince Charles Edward Stuart drank from the quaich…

This is a silver baluster snuff mull with the heraldic arms of Cluny MacPherson set within a foliated scroll formed cartouche. The museum purchased the mull at auction in 2015 specifically for the Jacobite collection. This special object purportedly…

This hard-tartan box pleated Stuart kilt in the Duke of Rothesay tartan and is said to have been worn by the Sobieski brothers. The tartan is their own design. It is unusual as it is a very early example of a sewn box pleated kilt and it is the…