Tudor Pottery dripping dish

Social History (Museum of St Albans)

This is a nearly complete pottery dripping dish, missing only its handle. It is made of the local glazed red earthenware, which was the commonest and probably the cheapest kind of pottery available for kitchen ware in Tudor St Albans. It was intended for placing in front of the fire underneath a spit to catch the drippings from the roasting meat. The fat was poured off and used for a variety of household tasks. These could include frying, burning in lamps, a base for ointments, and mixed with wood ashes to make soap. There are still traces of soot on the side which would have been against the fire. The spout would allow the juices to be poured off.

135 transparency

Kate Warren

1) Photo Studio

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