This loving cup is lead glazed red earthenware, cylindrical with two loop handles, internal white slip with three applied frogs. It is inscribed with a rectangular panel. Made at Soil Hill Pottery, Halifax, Yorkshire, about 1870s-80s.
Brief History of Soil Hill pottery
The Soil Hill pottery was located near the village of Ogden, near Halifax, Yorkshire. The pottery was first established 1784 by Mr John Cathedrall. They were a country pottery, manufacturing low cost practical wares for a local market. This pottery specialised in mixing bowls, jugs and flowerpots.
At some point in the mid 1800’s the pottery passed from Mr Cathedrall to Mr Wilcock who continued to manifacture country pottery. Mr Wilcocks ownership of the site did not last long and by 1880 the pottery had ceased manufacturing. It is from the latter period of Mr Wilcocks tenure that our frog loving cup comes from.
The pottery site and land was sold in 1880 to John Kinston. He and his family used the pottery works to farm poultry. In 1900 Titus Kinston inherited the site and sold it to Mr Isaac Button snr for £800.
Mr Button intended to re-establish a country pottery works on the site. He built a new kiln and other buildings slightly further down Soil hill. This new site used latest technology including new methods of firing and ventilation and the use of waste heat to dry slurry. This represented an important innovation in earthenware manufacturer and ensured the new site was awarded Grade II listing in 1980.
Initially 13 men were employed at the new Soil Hill site. However, this level of employment did not last long. Mr Isaac Button jnr the son of the original Mr Button inherited the pottery. He was not able to find an apprentice and as a result he worked alone for 18 years. Pottery manufacture was a hard process. Mr Button had to dig and mix the clay, throw the pots and fire them on his own. Apparently, he was able to throw and cut a perfectly formed pot in 22 seconds.
The new Soil Hill site closed in 1965 after Mr Button Jnr retired.
Brief History of Loving Cups
A loving cup is a vessel with at least 2 handles. These cups are used in banquets, weddings and other ceremonies to symbolise unity.
According to legend the origin of Loving cups dates to the reign of the Anglo-Saxon King Edward the Martyr. He was murdered in 978 by his mother at a banquet whilst drinking from a cup. By using 2 hands to hold the vessel he was not able to defend himself. This evolved into a tradition of standing at banquets to drink with a partner for protection.
Whatever the origins of this ancient ceremony, the practice is continued today at formal occasions. Civic guilds continue to use their own Loving Cups at guild banquets although they often have a slightly different form. At the City of London Guild events the Loving Cup ceremony usually happens after grace. The head of the table will read ‘The Master drinks to you in a Loving Cup, and bids you all a hearty welcome’ The drinker and their neighbour stand back-to-back, the drinker raises the cup to the room and takes a drink, they pass the cup one handed to their neighbour with a bow. This process is repeated around the room until all have drunk. The most important part of this ceremony is that it is fun with jolly music is played throughout.
Loving cups have been used in wedding ceremonies for generations. The loving cup represented life and filled with possibilities for the bride and groom. The sweet wine symbolises happiness, joy and hope. Bitter properties represent sorrow, grief, and despair. The combination of the two handles signifies the lover’s journey. All who share from the cup will share in this together.
Frog Cups
Frog cups were first manufactured in around 1750’s and became verry popular throughout the early nineteenth century. A small clay frog would usually be placed on the base or the side of the mug. This would then surprise the drinker when the frog was uncovered. You can certainly image how this might have been performed as a joke at a party.
Many similar examples with clay frogs on the base of mugs exist. These were manufactured by many different potteries across the country.
No one is certain how the frog cup started. One tale was that a potter left some cups out overnight to cool. When he returned to them the next morning he found a frog sitting inside. This amused him so he re-created it in ceramic.
There was also a belief that sudden shocks could cure a fever. Frogs might be placed into someone’s drink to shock them as a remedy, similar to how we may try to cure hiccups. It is possible that the frog may be dual purpose and represent health as well as a fun joke.
