A grace cup (or loving cup) is a silver bowl or tankard with two handles that was traditionally passed round the table after grace at banquets. According to '' Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable'', the Grace Cup is still seen at the

Lord Mayor Lord mayor is a title of a mayor of what is usually a major city in a Commonwealth realm, with special recognition bestowed by the sovereign. However, the title or an equivalent is present in other countries, including forms such as "high mayor". A ...

's feasts, at College, and occasionally in private banquets.

Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...

's Oriel College possesses Sanford and Heywood grace cups, dated 1654-55 and 1669–70 in its Buttery Plate collection. Nearby Balliol College also makes reference to the use of a Grace Cup which was discontinued in the early-20th century. 'Grace' cups were passed round when a traditional grace (a

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of thanksgiving) was said to give thanks for the food eaten. Robert Burton, in his '' Anatomy of Melancholy'' (1621) described their use as "a corollary to conclude the feast and continue their mirth, a grace cup came in to cheer their hearts and they drank healths to one another again and again". A good example is The Howard 'Grace' Cup.

Usage

The proper way of drinking the cup observed at the Lord Mayor's banquet or City companies' is to have a silver bowl with two handles and a napkin. Two persons stand up, one to drink and the other to defend the drinker. Having taken his draught, he wipes the cup with the napkin, and passes it to his "defender," when the next person rises to defend the new drinker. And so on to the end.Grace Cup
Brewer's Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, 1898

References

* Ceremonial food and drink Drinkware Silver objects {{drinkware-stub