Description:
English earthenware circular, footed whistle cup (a drink made with gruel, wine or ale, spices, and a sweetener) with four grooved loop handles and slightly hollowed-out, molded half-circle (1 1/2" wide x 7/8' deep), which is a small whistle held within a loop near the rim, all covered with dark brown glaze and sgraffito decoration. "DRINK / A / BOVT / AND / SEE / HOW / MERRY / WEE / SHALL / BEE / 1755" is inscribed around the outside rim, above the top of the handles. The cup is missing its conical lid. The four areas between the handles have two stylized flower designs alternating with two abstract geometric designs. The foot rim has two rings of raised slashes separated by a broad plain band with incised lines around its top and bottom. This monumental piece is one of a small group closely related in shape and decoration and with dates ranging over nearly sixty years. These incised cups perhaps were produced in the Wylye Valley, near Salisbury, in South Wiltshire. This attribution is based in part on the discovery of a number of these vessels in that region. Like multi-handled tygs from Wrotham, Kent, whistle cups of the type shown here were filled with drink and shared among the celebrants at christenings, wedding feasts, or other festive occasions. It is likely that the initials on many of the Wiltshire cups originally identified the owners. If conspicuous for the use of poor spelling, whistle cups are equally so for their ability to illustrate the popular fascination with recognizable shapes and decorative motifs. This example is related to a whistle cup in the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, England, which reads: 1737, [lettering uncertain] "DRINK A BOVT AND SEE HOW MERY WE SHALL BE," "PG."
Subjects:
Pottery; glaze (coating by location) Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+53.113 |
