In Greater Manchester
- How money from slavery made Greater Manchester
- The importance of cotton in north west England
- The Lancashire cotton famine
- Smoking, drinking and the British sweet tooth
- Black presence in Britain and north west England
- Resistance and campaigns for abolition
- The bicentenary of British abolition
Global
Smoking, drinking and the British sweet tooth
Masonic wine glass
Made in England, about 1770
Glass, with engraved decoration
Object number 26.36/1
Given by Mr Ormrod, 1936
See this object at Gallery Oldham This object may not always be on display. Please check with the venue before visiting.
View images © Gallery Oldham
This magnificent wine glass is engraved with symbols of Freemasonry, an organisation which developed from the late 16th century. It was probably used for communal drinking rituals.
By the time this cup was made, in 1770, slavery was a major factor in the British economy and the commodities produced by slave labour were shaping British culture. Wine and punch were popular drinks which were both often sweetened with sugar from the Caribbean.
This information was provided by curators from Gallery Oldham.