Tankard (one of a pair) 1824 - 1825

This silver tankard was crafted by Edward Farrell in England, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. At this time, Britain's global power was expanding through naval strength, colonialism, and industrial manufacturing. Farrell's tankard demonstrates the importance of silver as a material for luxury goods. It also shows the era's fascination with elaborate historical narratives. The relief carvings that circle the tankard evoke military scenes, likely intended to convey a sense of British power and martial glory. Such imagery connects the rituals of domestic life, like drinking, with grand narratives of national identity and imperial authority. Studying objects like this requires us to consider the social and economic conditions that enabled their creation. Researching Farrell's career and the patronage networks of silversmiths would reveal more about the cultural values embedded in this ornate object. Art history, at its best, situates artworks within the complex web of social and institutional histories.