Cann c. 1707

This silver Cann, attributed to John Fletcher, presents an intriguing tableau of symbols and societal identity. The engraved coat of arms is an assertion of lineage, a visual claim to social standing, mirroring the heraldic emblems found on medieval shields and Renaissance tapestries. But what is a coat of arms on a drinking vessel suggesting? The ritual of communal drinking, of raising a cup in shared experience, is as old as civilization itself. We see echoes of this in ancient Greek libations, and medieval feasting halls. To emblazon such a vessel with a family’s mark elevates the act of drinking to one of affirming identity and heritage. Consider, too, how the reflective surface of the silver transforms the drinker's face into a fleeting image superimposed on the family crest. In this act, the individual becomes both a part of and a continuation of their ancestral story, a potent reminder of the cyclical nature of history. The Cann then is a mirror reflecting the past, present, and future.