Portia's reference to a ‘deep glass’ in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice suggests something like this, a remarkably fine and well preserved example of a sixteenth-century berkemeier.
Peter Hewitt Merchant of Venice Shakespeare in 100 ObjectsThroughout the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, samplers were increasingly used by girls and young women to practise their embroidery technique
Stephanie Appleton A Midsummer Night's Dream Othello Shakespeare in 100 ObjectsElizabeth Sharrett discusses the Tudor baby walker in our collections
Elizabeth Sharrett Shakespeare in 100 ObjectsVictoria Jackson explains the practical and symbolic use of trenchers in Shakespeare's day.
Shakespeare in 100 ObjectsPeter Hewitt examines a beautiful sixteenth-century allegorical painting
Peter Hewitt Shakespeare in 100 ObjectsCauldrons were commonplace domestic items during Shakespeare’s lifetime, and were used by the women of the household for cooking meals for the family.
Stephanie Appleton Shakespeare in 100 ObjectsPeter Hewitt looks at an example of a pestle and mortar, as would have been used by Romeo's apothecary
Peter Hewitt Shakespeare in 100 ObjectsThe associations and symbolism of an apparently simple, silver thimble.
Stephanie Appleton Shakespeare in 100 ObjectsWitchcraft was an ominous presence in the daily lives of early modern people, who used various means to protect themselves from malicious attack, such as this stool.
Peter Hewitt Shakespeare in 100 ObjectsElizabeth Sharrett explores the humble joint stool, which would have proved useful as a prop on the Renaissance stage.
Elizabeth Sharrett Shakespeare in 100 Objects