Wooden Lathe-Turned Cups/Bowls

Reconstruction of a lathe-turned maplewood bottle with
decorative metal neck fitting from the 6th century royal
Anglo-Saxon burial at Sutton Hoo (Earwood, p. 93).
Wooden Lathe-Turned Cups/Bowls
While few wooden turned objects survive outside of York
and other large centers, the metal collars are found.
Drawing of possible reconstruction of the Burray Hoard
alderwood vessel. The distinct pattern of turning marks,
possibly a decorative element, are what allowed
archeologists to reconstruct the bowl from the fragments
found in 1889 (Graham-Campbell, VAG&SofS, p. 142).
Sunnifa Gunnarsdottir (Charlotte Mayhew)
Wooden cup from the 16-22 Coppergate,
York, dig. “Coppergate had an active
woodworking industry that produced latheturned bowls, plates, and cups. Attention
to style is evident in decorative rims and
attractive wood grain. The site’s name
probably derives from the Old Norse
words, koppari (a wood-turner or cup
maker) and gata (street).” (Fitzhugh &
Ward, p. 136). While no lathe has been
found to date, the waste products from
wood-turning (wooden cores) are a
common find in York. Several good
examples of wood-turned bowls survive,
some quite large, though the above cup is
the most complete cup found.
Reconstruction of a lathe-turned walnut
burr-wood cup or bowl with decorative
metal neck fitting from the 6th century
royal Anglo-Saxon burial at Sutton Hoo
(Earwood, p. 93). The metal neck fitting
enabled researchers to reconstruct it.
crmayhew@comcast.net
September 2011
4
Silver edge of a woman’s drinking horn
from Birka Grave 523 (Arbman, Taf.
196). Horns do not often survive.
Silver Cups and Horn Mounts
“This Frankish silver vessel was found in Fejø in Jutland,
together with five smaller cups. Apparently of 8th century
manufacture, it could have got to Denmark by trading or
raiding or diplomatic gift in the 8th or 9th century.” (Sawyer,
p. 21) Note that the small cups are shaped much like AngloSaxon and Irish hanging bowls.
11th C. Byzantine silver cup brought to Gotland by Vikings,
who carved runes on the bottom of it. (Margeson, p. 18)
Sunnifa Gunnarsdottir (Charlotte Mayhew)
“Silver-gilt chalice (12.6 cm high), and
silver horn-mounts engraved with
niello decoration (21.4 cm, 18.2 cm,
18.2 cm), from the Anglo-Saxon silver
hoard found at Trewhiddle, Cornwall
(British Museum). The hoard
contained several other items, including
a striking silver scourge, and coins (one
from Northumbria) which dated its
deposit 872-5. …The hoard is at least
evidence of the silver wealth of late 9thcentury England” (Campbell, p. 141).
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September 2011
5
11th C. drinking-horn mount from Ǻrhus,
Jutland, made of gilded bronze (R&W, p. 236).
“This silver goblet was found a little north of Ribe
together with six small undecorated silver bowls. It
was probably made in the Frankish kingdom just
before 800, but how it reached Ribe is unknown.”
(Jensen, p. 65)
View of the 5-inch tall 10th C. Vale of York
silver gilt cup after restoration. Image: http://
www.artfund.org/images/grants/Lon_BM.jpg
The 10th C. silver Jelling cup is distinct in
shape and ornament (Margeson, p. 4).
Sunnifa Gunnarsdottir (Charlotte Mayhew)
“This cup was made further south in the Carolingian
Empire, in modern France or Germany. It is made
of gilt (gold-coated) silver decorated with the figure
of a bull-like animal and symmetrical leaves of the
acanthus plant. The cup must have been traded or
plundered, because it was found in a Viking hoard at
Halton Moor, England, with a silver neck-ring…and
a gold pendant.” (Margeson, p. 37) “Silver gilt
bowl from Halton Moor, near Lancaster, found with
coins of Cnut, height about 8.5 cm (British
Museum).” (Campbell, p. 212)
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September 2011
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