Tankard 1720 - 1721

This tankard was made by John Elston, a silversmith active in colonial America. The form is created by raising and planishing sheets of silver. Look closely, and you’ll see the marks of the hammer, even after polishing. The weight of the material is important. Silver was money, and a vessel like this declared its owner's wealth. It also speaks to the silversmith’s labor. Elston would have apprenticed for many years to develop his skills. A tankard like this would have taken days to make, each hammer blow requiring careful control. Consider, too, the social context. Unlike the European aristocracy, who drank from gold, the American elite favored silver, signaling a different, mercantile sensibility. This tankard is not just a functional object; it embodies the values of a rising class. It blurs the line between craft and capital.