Posset pot 1710 - 1720

This posset pot, of unknown date, was made by an anonymous artist using tin-glazed earthenware. A posset was a popular British beverage, a kind of hot milk punch often made with ale or wine, curdled with spices. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, posset was often consumed as a remedy for colds and other ailments. This beautifully ornamented pot offers a glimpse into the domestic rituals of the time. The cultural history of posset intersects with the history of medicine, domestic life, and social customs. Consider how class distinctions might have shaped the experience of illness and healing. The wealthy would have had access to ornate vessels like this one, while the poor may have relied on folk remedies or lacked access to care altogether. How does an object like this speak to the intimate and, at times, unequal relationships between bodies, health, and social structures?