Feeding Cup thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 52a

Feeding Cup

1800s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
Boat-shaped feeding vessels were used by disabled people unable to consume solid foods. They were often known as 'feeding boats' or 'sauce boats', but Wedgwood called them 'physic cups' and gave them an elaborate handle.

Materials & Making
Cream-coloured earthenware, brought to perfection by the experiments of Josiah Wedgwood in the 1760s, was hygienic in use and proved ideal for medical applications. A range of such objects was offered by the factory from the late 18th century onwards, though during the following century the production of medical white earthenwares became increasingly centred on specialist Staffordshire firms.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Cream-coloured earthenware with lead glaze
Brief description
Feeding cup, cream-coloured earthenware with lead glaze, Josiah Wedgwood and Sons Ltd., Etruria (Stoke-on-Trent), 1800s
Physical description
Feeding cup of cream-coloured earthenware. Boat-shaped, covered at one end, and with a curved spout; at the other end is a knob in the form of a dog's head. On either side are loop handles with shell-like projections for the thumbs of the holder.
Dimensions
  • Maximum height: 5.4cm
  • Width: 19.2cm
  • Approximately length: 24cm
Marks and inscriptions
'WEDGWOOD' (Impressed)
Credit line
Transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street
Object history
Made by Wedgwood factory at Etruria, Staffordshire
Subject depicted
Summary
Object Type
Boat-shaped feeding vessels were used by disabled people unable to consume solid foods. They were often known as 'feeding boats' or 'sauce boats', but Wedgwood called them 'physic cups' and gave them an elaborate handle.

Materials & Making
Cream-coloured earthenware, brought to perfection by the experiments of Josiah Wedgwood in the 1760s, was hygienic in use and proved ideal for medical applications. A range of such objects was offered by the factory from the late 18th century onwards, though during the following century the production of medical white earthenwares became increasingly centred on specialist Staffordshire firms.
Collection
Accession number
2366-1901

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Record createdJune 28, 1999
Record URL
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