For years, Worcester College at Oxford University used a cup made from a real human skull during formal dinners. The college quietly removed it in 2015 after staff and guests began to feel uncomfortable.
Skull Cup Used to Serve Wine, Then Chocolates
The cup was crafted from the top of a skull and trimmed with silver. At first, the college used it to serve wine. When it started leaking, they used it to serve chocolates instead. Over time, more people found the practice disturbing.
In 2019, the college asked archaeologist Professor Dan Hicks to research the object’s history. Hicks works at Oxford’s Pitt Rivers Museum and studies colonial collections.
Skull Belonged to Enslaved Woman
Carbon dating shows the skull is about 225 years old. Based on its size and shape, experts believe it belonged to a woman from the Caribbean. She was likely enslaved. Unfortunately, no records reveal her name or story.
The silver trim was added in 1838, the year Queen Victoria took the throne. General Augustus Pitt Rivers bought the object at a Sotheby’s auction in 1884. He collected many artifacts from across the British Empire.
Eugenicist Donated the Object
Later, the skull cup passed to George Pitt-Rivers, the general’s grandson. George supported eugenics and held far-right views. The British government interned him during World War II. He gave the skull cup to Worcester College.
College Removed Cup After Legal Review
By 2011, the college rarely used the cup. In 2015, they removed it entirely. After a legal review, the college placed the object in storage. They locked it away and now deny access to anyone.
Experts Call for Change
In his book “Every Monument Will Fall,” Professor Hicks explains the deeper meaning behind such objects. He says colonial powers often looted human remains and erased the victims’ identities.
British MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy also spoke out. She called the college’s past use of the cup “sickening.” According to her, the cup reflects Britain’s long history of exploitation.
Worcester College now admits that it failed to act sooner. It has committed to reviewing other historical items in its collection. Officials say they want to handle all such objects with care and respect from now on.