Hunting tankard 1679

This hunting tankard was made in the late 17th or early 18th century, likely in Germany, by George Schöps. It is made of dark brown stoneware. The tankard’s surface is full of reliefs, showing hunting scenes with dogs chasing deer. The scenes are set in recessed panels on the body of the tankard, with molded ornamentation around the edges, and it's all very crisp and highly detailed. This was achieved by pressing the clay into molds before firing, a technique that allowed for a high degree of standardization and reproduction, tying it to the rise of early industry. The tankard testifies to a culture in which the rituals of the hunt were central to social identity, and also to the pleasures of consumption. Stoneware was a relatively durable and affordable material, making such objects accessible to a broad range of consumers. By looking closely at its materials and making, we can appreciate how this tankard connects to social practices and early forms of industrial production.