This is a very rare nest of bickers made in Scotland in the 18th century. Bickers were traditional Scottish drinking vessels and as shown in this nest, they were made in a variety of sizes.It was said that a skilled craftsman was able to make a bicker using only a knife. It was made of alternate sycamore and alder staves which fitted together with a series of small feather like notches. The whole vessel was then held in place with willow bands which were carefully laced together. A dried pea was inserted into a false base in the largest bicker, so that the cup rattled when a top up was required.