I need a mug or tankard but one that's relatively inexpensive...so here's my questions:
A) What type of inexpensive material(s) did they use to make drinkware out of back then?
and
B) Is there any stores I can physically go to where they may be sold at?
Thanks! :)
Any sort of metal drinkware was very very expensive back then. Less expensive was pottery. Even less was wood (except some of the best carved and spiraled ones). Today, that's all flipped. A well-made wooden tankard can be expensive these days, in comparison. I make those but don't sell through a brick-and-mortar store. Just wholesale to other faire/event retailers and what custom orders I get.
You can find relatively inexpensive pewter or even silver drinkware at a flea-market or goodwill store or even garage sales. I was at a flea market a couple of days ago looking for some tools and ran across a pair of great silver wine chalices for $2. Just be careful on the lead/no-lead of the pewter.
For pottery, just look around in your area for most any pottery shop (that actually makes pottery, not just resellers) and if they don't have something you like, they can make it for you. Lots of pottery shops and makers in almost all areas of the USA.
Wooden drinkware, for what you're wanting, is a bit harder to find. Look for a local woodturners club and ask them if one of their members have experience in making these (that you can USE and not just for display). Several turners out there that can shape a mug or tankard but if they don't do it right, it looks horrible (finishes! and inside shape!) and won't last as long as it should. Another option, if you just want a simple cup/mug to use, is to look at Pier One or, heck, even Target or Walmart for those Burma/Taiwanese wooden cups they have. You can glue on a handle and tie it to your garb. I don't recommend it, necessarily, but it has been done. I've been asked several times at faire to make handles for them as well as repair them. Not everyone can afford one of the $75 -$100+ good wooden tankards so I'm happy to do it. Later, they might appreciate one of those and I'm just as happy to make that for them, too.
In the 15th/16th century drinking vessels of metal were mainly owned by the merchant class, gentry, nobility and royalty.
Gold, silver (usually plated) and lead pewter. Needless to say modern pewter is lead free and one version is trademarked under 'statesmetal'.
The working classes on down to the lowest serfs used vessels of carved wood, horn or bone. These had their own issues with being unhealthy.
Modern drinking vessels sold at fairs made of these materials usually have a coating that makes them safe and washable. Many fairs sell wooden cups and goblets like the ones that Woodland Artisan makes. You could see them at your local fair.
His lordship and I prefer our statesmetal goblets because they get cold and stay cold. You can sometimes see these at fair, or even find some at your local thrift store.
Thrift store are a good source for the modern "pewter" mugs. Wilton makes a nice mug out of their version of leadless pewter called "Armetale". Their mugs have a stamp "RWP" inside of a circle. The W is larger than the R and P. The whole stamp is about half the size of a dime.
If the mug has a decoration on it that you don't like (a company name or whatever), you can grind it off quite readily and sand the metal smooth. It turns out quite nice.
Another place to look besides thrift stores is ebay.
Good luck!
Quote from: DonaCatalina on May 20, 2011, 11:13:45 AM
His lordship and I prefer our statesmetal goblets because they get cold and stay cold.
While the metal drinkware has some great properties, keeping hot things hot or cold things cold (ie insulation) isn't one of them. If you can feel the hot/cold from the outside, that means it isn't keeping that on the inside. However, if you like to run that cool metal cup over your cheek on a hot summer day to help cool down your face, then that's the thing to have.
I was remiss to the OP for not mentioning leather as another option for a mug/tankard. Depending on how fancy you want a design (if at all) on the outside of it, it'll be in the range of the pottery and wood ones for price.
Thanks guys for the help! I shall certainly keep my eye out the next time I'm at Goodwill! :)
Quote from: Woodland Artisan on May 20, 2011, 03:37:56 PM
While the metal drinkware has some great properties, keeping hot things hot or cold things cold (ie insulation) isn't one of them. If you can feel the hot/cold from the outside, that means it isn't keeping that on the inside.
That's true, but there are insulated metal mugs out there;
(http://i251.photobucket.com/albums/gg301/olmark/Kilt%20Stuff/mugs002.jpg)
This is my usual mug, it's an insulated stainless steel number by a company called StainlessLux. It keeps things hot and cold pretty well for me. Other good points for me are that it's quite durable, (I've broken the handle off a WWinW mug before) And it's pretty shiney! ::)
I got it as a gift, but I think Amazon sells them.
I saw some nice 'primitive' wood mugs, basically hollowed out trees, some with the bark still on, etc..at Sherwood this year, but I don't recall the vendor.
A little afterthought, when or where did copper start being used for drinking vessels?
Zardoz,
Well, I'll be .... that's neat. Any idea what they're insulated with and how? Is it just the bottom or is it the sides, too?
Yeah, I've seen those sorts of wooden mugs before, too. I don't make anything like that. At all.
Quote from: Zardoz on May 21, 2011, 02:38:52 PM
I saw some nice 'primitive' wood mugs, basically hollowed out trees, some with the bark still on, etc..at Sherwood this year, but I don't recall the vendor.
Those are from Mug O'the Woods...my friend Doc Rice makes them.
Here's mine
(http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/10221_100174623339351_100000404403619_1497_6501966_n.jpg)
Quote from: Woodland Artisan on May 21, 2011, 02:50:13 PM
Zardoz,
Well, I'll be .... that's neat. Any idea what they're insulated with and how? Is it just the bottom or is it the sides, too?
Well, based on thumping it, I don't feel that it's insulated with anything other than air, but the metal is pretty heavy duty, maybe like 18 ga., the sides and inner part of the mug are drawn in one piece, with the base capping it off, so it is double-walled throughout .
Those mugs are seriously cool! Geddit? lol :D ;D
Tooling Around at MNRF makes wonderful wooden mugs. They are probably more than you want to spend...but it is fun to shoot high.
(http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x289/Hatter50/Mugs707.jpg)
These are mine. The Dark one is made from a cherry burl and the light one is spalted Maple.
I love them.
Those are real nice! :)
Another good source for stainless mugs is an awards/engraving store. I picked up a brand new solid stainless steel mug that looks similar to the one pictured in Zardoz's post (though not insulated) for $12.00 on clearance, still in the box.
I'm waiting for Canth Awards to clearance the glass bottomed design.