Lacock Cup
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Lacock Cup | |
|---|---|
 Lacock Cup as displayed in the British Museum | |
| Material | Silver |
| Size | 33cm high |
| Created | Mid-Fifteenth Century |
| Present location | British Museum, London |
The Lacock Cup is a late medieval silver standing-cup. It was made for secular use, which makes its survival very rare, but was early in its life given to St Cyriac's Church in Lacock, Wiltshire, England, who used it as a chalice. It is now in the British Museum, where it is usually on display.
The cup dates from the mid-15th century and has been described as "one of the most significant pieces of secular English medieval silver".[1] Most such feasting cups have been destroyed or were altered due to changing fashion.
However, the Lacock Cup was donated to the church soon after creation and so it has survived in its original condition.[1] The cup's function changed after the English Reformation, as new religious practices meant that a larger communion cup was required to hold sufficient wine for the whole congregation during a time when strict laws prohibited the use of religious images.[2] Since 1962, it has been on display at the British Museum.[2]
