A feast did not guarantee a cup for everyone
In many earlier dining settings, guests drank from a shared vessel rather than each receiving a personal glass. A large cup could be passed around the table, with each person taking a turn. The arrangement was not proof that a household lacked wealth: a host might provide an abundant meal and fine serving pieces while still having few individual drinking vessels.
Why one cup could serve a whole table
Glassware was not always cheap or readily available, and producing a complete set of matching drinking glasses was a different expense from owning a few impressive objects. A sturdy communal cup also fit a style of service built around shared dishes and vessels. Wealth changed what a household could afford, but it did not instantly make today’s expectation—one drinking glass per person—standard.
Practices varied by place, period, and occasion; some wealthy diners certainly had individual cups. But the shared vessel is a useful reminder that luxury was not a modern checklist of personal items. At a grand table, the feast could be lavish while the cup still made its rounds.
