Mug 1753 - 1755

This silver mug was made by W. Parry, sometime in the 1700s. As a historian, what fascinates me about an object like this is the picture it gives us of life in Britain during that time. While a simple mug, its material indicates a certain level of wealth. Silver wasn't exactly commonplace, so owning something like this suggested you were part of a particular social class. But beyond that, consider what the mug was used for, probably beer. During the 18th century, beer was a staple, it was safer to drink than water. So, this isn't just a mug; it's a window into the daily life, health concerns, and social habits of the time. Museum collections and archives are full of objects like this mug, and through studying them, we can start to build a richer understanding of the past. It encourages us to consider how everyday items reflect the broader social structures of their time.