What is a loving cup used for?

A loving cup functioned as a communal drinking vessel passed among guests at banquets, weddings and civic celebrations. The multiple handles allowed each person to hold the vessel securely with both hands while standing. Over time, many of these vessels transitioned into decorative mantelpiece items or presentation pieces marking specific historical events rather than everyday barware.

How do I identify a tyg?

A tyg is distinguished primarily by having three or more distinct loop handles attached to a straight-sided or bulbous body. This multi-handle design separated them from standard mugs intended for individual use. Most examples seen here date from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, often rendered in heavy stoneware or earthenware for communal drinking.

Are silver loving cups hallmarked?

Solid sterling silver examples carry official assay office hallmarks that indicate the year of manufacture, standard of purity and maker's mark. These stamps provide a reliable method for dating the piece accurately. Silver-plated items bear alternative stamps denoting old plating methods rather than precious metal purity standards.

Why do some cups have frogs inside?

Ceramic surprise mugs feature a small modelled frog or newt sitting inside the bottom of the vessel. As the drinker finished their ale, the hidden creature would suddenly appear. This provided a lighthearted drinking prank popular in eighteenth-century taverns and domestic gatherings.