Loving Cups are used in celebration; the ceremony of the loving cup is a tradition that dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, when King Edward the Martyr was assassinated in 979 while drinking at a banquet. The cup passes round the table with each guest drinking to their neighbour, who lifts the lid for them, while their back is protected by another, in a ritualistic and extremely polite slow motion Mexican wave! Therefore, there are important functional requirements to incorporate into this sculptural object. The cup must be easily passed from guest to guest (hence the three robust and comfortable handles), The lid must be easily lifted and located back onto the cup by all guests, with practical considerations about capacity, weight, and ease of cleaning. 

The strong sculptural form of the cup is inspired by the Teazle seed head, which was historically used in the finishing of fine cloth, the craft on which the Clothworkers’ Company was established. The elegant bracts inspired the three handles, and the three balancing elements coming up from the base. The details and form of the cup itself are based on the shape of the prickly seed head.  

The cup was commissioned in 2016. It stands 35cm tall.

If you would like to find out more about the commissioning process, I would be delighted to have an informal no-obligation chat.

You can also find out more about how the commissioning process works here.