Tankard 1692 - 1693

This silver tankard was crafted in London, around the late 17th century, by the artisan H. R.. Observe how the tankard, a seemingly simple vessel, becomes a symbol of communal ritual and personal indulgence. The very act of raising a tankard echoes gestures found in ancient symposiums and medieval banquets, each a stage for social bonding and the affirmation of status. Note the handle’s curve, inviting the hand, reminiscent of the clasped hands in funerary art, symbolizing connection beyond the self. This act, deeply ingrained in our cultural memory, bridges the gap between personal experience and collective history. The tankard becomes more than a drinking vessel; it is a vessel of cultural memory itself. Consider how such a piece, through generations, continues to evoke the same primal satisfaction and solidarity, resurfacing in different forms, each time carrying echoes of the past.