Tankard 1725 - 1750

Editor: Here we have a silver tankard, crafted by John Hastier sometime between 1725 and 1750. It’s currently held at the Met. The craftsmanship looks quite good. What's your read on this object? Curator: Well, first off, let’s think about the material itself. Silver, even then, signals wealth and status, but it also reflects evolving trade networks. Consider where the silver came from and the labor involved in its extraction and refinement. Does that inform how you see the tankard's function? Editor: I hadn’t considered the supply chain! I guess it's not just about drinking from a fancy cup, it's about showing off that you have access to global resources and cheap labor. So, this wasn't just a functional object; it was a declaration of power? Curator: Precisely! And look closely at the design: it's functional but deliberately plain, right? Almost industrial, you might say. Editor: Yes, it isn't ornamented. The form is quite simple and geometric. Is there any meaning behind it? Curator: Indeed. Perhaps it speaks to a rising merchant class, valuing utility and efficient production as much as lavish display. Ask yourself, who would be buying such an object? Editor: I see! It’s not necessarily about aristocracy trying to look fancy, but rather the wealthy middle-class valuing practicality along with quality materials. Curator: Exactly! And the "quality material" tells only half the story. I wonder how ideas around craft changed. Consider its function too. Is the consumption of alcohol connected in any way? Editor: It completely changes my perspective. It's about seeing how objects like this tankard were products of social and economic forces, rather than just aesthetic taste. Curator: Precisely. Considering materials and production, labor and trade changes the way we experience what might have seemed just like a decorative object.