Learning through objects from the Islington Education Library Service’s handling collection
Face Cup, Medieval, Replica
In medieval times inns and taverns were as popular as they are today, although they were mainly used by men. They were great places to enjoy meeting people, eating and drinking and watching performing entertainers. The inn courtyard was the birthplace of the theatre.
Face cups were popular during the 13th and 14th century and continued to be used up until the 17th century. The cup shown here is a reproduction of the type of face cup made in Kingston on Thames in the medieval period. At this time the mugs had a greeny-brown glaze, as this one does, but by Tudor times the glaze was plain brown. The nose, ears and eyes are built out of clay that was moulded onto the side of the cup before it was fired. The mouth and nostrils have been scratched into the clay while it was still damp, again, before firing. The arms are rolled clay that have been stuck onto the cup using slip, a mixture of clay and water that acts like glue. The cup holds about 375 mls (12.75 fluid oz) of liquid.
Face cups were popular during the 13th and 14th century and continued to be used up until the 17th century. The cup shown here is a reproduction of the type of face cup made in Kingston on Thames in the medieval period. At this time the mugs had a greeny-brown glaze, as this one does, but by Tudor times the glaze was plain brown. The nose, ears and eyes are built out of clay that was moulded onto the side of the cup before it was fired. The mouth and nostrils have been scratched into the clay while it was still damp, again, before firing. The arms are rolled clay that have been stuck onto the cup using slip, a mixture of clay and water that acts like glue. The cup holds about 375 mls (12.75 fluid oz) of liquid.
Height:12.8cm
Height:12.8cm
In medieval times inns and taverns were as popular as they are today, although they were mainly used by men. They were great places to enjoy meeting people, eating and drinking and watching performing entertainers. The inn courtyard was the birthplace of the theatre.
Face cups were popular during the 13th and 14th century and continued to be used up until the 17th century. The cup shown here is a reproduction of the type of face cup made in Kingston on Thames in the medieval period. At this time the mugs had a greeny-brown glaze, as this one does, but by Tudor times the glaze was plain brown. The nose, ears and eyes are built out of clay that was moulded onto the side of the cup before it was fired. The mouth and nostrils have been scratched into the clay while it was still damp, again, before firing. The arms are rolled clay that have been stuck onto the cup using slip, a mixture of clay and water that acts like glue. The cup holds about 375 mls (12.75 fluid oz) of liquid.
Face cups were popular during the 13th and 14th century and continued to be used up until the 17th century. The cup shown here is a reproduction of the type of face cup made in Kingston on Thames in the medieval period. At this time the mugs had a greeny-brown glaze, as this one does, but by Tudor times the glaze was plain brown. The nose, ears and eyes are built out of clay that was moulded onto the side of the cup before it was fired. The mouth and nostrils have been scratched into the clay while it was still damp, again, before firing. The arms are rolled clay that have been stuck onto the cup using slip, a mixture of clay and water that acts like glue. The cup holds about 375 mls (12.75 fluid oz) of liquid.
