Glazed Cup from Oxford: 15th century

In each century after the Norman Conquest, the town of Oxford grew, its inhabitants became more prosperous and comfortable, houses became more like what we would recognise as a family house today - with separate rooms for eating and sleeping for instance - and household goods became more numerous and more decorative.

Many people now ate at a table, and potteries in east Oxfordshire created attractive glazed vessels for eating and drinking from. The little pottery cup once had a handle, and has a flat base suitable for resting on a board. It is decorated inside and out with a lead glaze to which copper filings (the speckles) have been added to achieve the bright green colour. It would have held ale, water or wine which was now imported from France in increasing quantity.

The cup was a cheaper alternative to the food containers of precious metals and glass which may be seen in contemporary illustrations of Medieval banquets in the halls of the wealthy.

The cup came from the moat of Oxford Castle where it presumably was tossed by someone from one of Oxford’s wealthier households, after it had lost its handle.