post medieval kuska?

[woodspirits]

i found this item while excavating around a tudor building, its meant to be hung from a belt as a personal beaker. my local PAS officer dated it to AD 1600 - 1800, is it the english version of a (small) kuksa, worn alongside his firemaking kit, dagger and purse?

i photographed this item along with some roman sherds found at another site, but its this beaker that intrigues me, any archeaologists here?


Steve

 

[Toddy]

Nice find
I don't know it in a pottery form, but I do know of something similar in metal called a tassie.
Pretty common in Scotland at one time. Often mistaken now for bar measures.

cheers,
Toddy

 

[woodspirits]

thanks Mary, and the hole in the handle (round 7.5mm) could it be a belt worn measure of some kind then?

 

[robin wood]

Jim Newboult of Trinity court potteries would know it I am sure. http://www.trinitycourtpotteries.co.uk/
Was your "excavation" stratified?

 

[Toddy]

If folks could afford them, they were made of silver, and like personal canteens (knife and spoon cutlery sets back then) they were among the personal property of individuals. Pewter ones were more commonplace.
The size and shape of the one you show seemed to remind me of the tassies.
I suppose it could have been used as a measure, but inns and the like used their own measures, and poured them into folks own tassies.
No idea if the pottery ones could be carried safely on a belt; it'd be like wandering about with a teacup (with walls more like a mug) if I make myself clear.
Sorry, I just don't know.

Hopefully some of the medieval reenactors will see the thread and comment. TomBear comes to mind on this one, but Eric Methven might well know too

cheers,
M

p.s. Good point, Robin

 

[woodspirits]

Jim Newboult of Trinity court potteries would know it I am sure. http://www.trinitycourtpotteries.co.uk/
Was your "excavation" stratified?

thanks Robin, there wasnt anything similar in their gallery, but i will email them with a picture to see if they can help. as i recall yes the ground i was reducing was 'stratified', in one of the layers there were lots of victorian finds this beaker was foung at a lower level.

 

[woodspirits]

no worries thanks anyway Mary, the local PAS couldnt define its use other than what i already mentioned.

 

[Eric_Methven]

I've never seen a handle like that before, but if anyone knows, it'll be Jim the Pot.
www.trinitycourtpotteries.co.uk/

Eric

 

[woodspirits]

I've never seen a handle like that before, but if anyone knows, it'll be Jim the Pot.
www.trinitycourtpotteries.co.uk/

Eric

thanks Eric, yes Robin mentioned the same chap. i will dash off an email to see if he can help.

 

[Badger74]

As others have mentioned, Jim the Pot is the man to ask. I know your pot seems to be later, but in the 15th century images I've looked at, I haven't seen cups dangling from belts and I wouldn't dream of hanging my reproduction mug off my belt whilst bumbling round camp. Apart from generally a personal knife and a purse/pouch not much else was worn on a belt.

 

[woodspirits]

thanks badger, it was a suggestion from the PAS officer that it could be belt worn. i must admit it seems a bit odd to me too! wouldnt take to much to chip or break. anyway ive sent Jim a picture and all the info i have, hopefully he can throw some light on it.

 

[sasquatch]

Nice find Steve, looking forward to hearing more on how it was used...

 

[woodspirits]

me too chad, unfortunately the chap at trinity potteries was at a loss to its purpose, he suggested it could be tudor and to ask my museum to see if it was made by a local potter, next time im in Birmingham i will take it in...again.

 

[sasquatch]

Still a nice find, the mystery continues. Keep us posted if you do find anyone that can shed some more light on it Steve.

 

[mountainm]

A handle like that would be good for hanging off a hook, maybe on a cart or coach - possibly a coachmans mug?

 

[wicca]

I'm sure this isn't the answer to this particular pot, but the way the handle is seemingly 'sideways' made me think of some pottery drinking vessels I saw long ago. They were more bowl shaped rather than mugs but the handles were fitted sideways. They were aboard an Arab Dhow. A wooden trestle table had pegs about 10cm high at one end and the bowls sat on the table with the handles slotted on the pegs. A simple idea that meant they could be placed on the table and if the ship rolled the bowls stayed safely captive on the table.

 

[tombear]

Not seen the like before myself but if you add a stick with a slight taper to it you have a ladle or dipper

atb

Tom