Tankard 1705 - 1715

Curator: We’re looking at a tankard, a type of drinking vessel, made of silver sometime between 1705 and 1715. It's currently part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the maker's mark indicates it was created by Samuel Vernon. Editor: My first impression is one of robust simplicity. The smooth, almost seamless expanse of silver, contrasted by the decorative elements at the base and lid, presents a kind of reserved elegance. It's deceptively minimalist. Curator: I concur on the observation of elegance; however, this object participates profoundly with Baroque sensibilities. The sculptural handle, the lid ornament suggesting avian form, the meticulous chasing along the base, and the finial ornament on the lid, demonstrate the period’s dedication to integrating decoration with utility. Note how the reflective plane of the tankard proper, juxtaposed to the dense hatching around its circumference, creates visual dynamism. Editor: Agreed. But consider what the object implies about artisanal practice: the repetitive, skillful hammering, the precise joinery. This speaks to the material reality of craft in the early 18th century and of the collective labor involved. How were these vessels consumed, what did it mean to have the money for silver works such as these? How were these silver materials collected? Its form and material speak to socioeconomic status as much as artistry. Curator: An excellent point! It certainly operates within a network of patronage, craftsmanship, and trade, indicating an important set of symbolic and financial registers of the time. Beyond that, its composition presents a study in understated curvature and how such geometries articulate form and use, transforming humble utility into potent visual language. The monogram as well adds an element of personal significance. Editor: Ultimately, considering the means of its creation alongside its place as a decorative object allows for a richer consideration of the material, skill, and society invested in something as "simple" as a silver tankard. The craft and labor invested create something whose form speaks not only to beauty, but to socioeconomic power. Curator: And on the level of purely formal observation, one appreciates the masterful combination of planes and subtle decorations! A compelling synthesis of material presence and understated visual intricacy.