Birka Supkopp Set, Black, Handmade

This set of two small, Viking Age cups is based on the find from grave mound 971 in Birka, Sweden. The term "supkopp" translates to "cup with a mouthful of liquor".

The cups are wholly handmade here in Sweden without a potter’s wheel, just as the original was made over 1000 years ago. The triangular patterns used is a common design evident on several finds from Birka.

The cups are made from stoneware with a matt glazed inside in order to make them more durable and easier to clean. This allows them to be washed in a dish washer and they can also withstand a microwave oven.

Iron was precious during the Viking Age, which led to black burning stoneware in an attempt to mimic the appearance of iron. This was done through reduction firing in a closed pit that restricts oxygen, which turns the pottery black with metallic features. These cups are made to imitate the process.