Tankard 1775 - 1795

Curator: Well, here we have a Tankard, made of silver, dating back to between 1775 and 1795. Editor: It has a strangely muted grandeur to it. Not exactly shouting opulence, more like politely murmuring, "Yes, I’m rather refined, aren’t I?" Curator: That reflects its cultural roots, being crafted in the United States. We see the influence of baroque, though tempered, if you will, by a colonial sensibility, which prized utility as well as adornment. It speaks to that tension. Editor: Absolutely! There’s a tension, too, between the implied weight and the reflective surface of the silver. It feels substantial, grounding... but the gleam sort of undermines that a bit, hinting at something more fluid, less fixed. Like liquid moonlight made solid. Curator: Very evocative. Consider who would have commissioned and used such an object. This isn't for the common person. Owning fine silverware was a status symbol, so this tankard tells a story about wealth and social standing in young America. We tend to think that American art in this time looks a very particular way. However, useful and beautiful works of craft are art too. Editor: I keep wanting to run my fingers over it. Silver has such a delicious coolness and smoothness. The handle with those embellishments would feel like grasping history itself... like holding the secrets to forgotten toasts and quiet conversations. Do you think beer or wine was the more popular drink of the day, Andrew? Curator: More likely beer, if it's anything like today! Perhaps the metal ensured it stayed cool and safe from bugs during a picnic! I am pleased we are discussing this object today, hopefully introducing some new perspective. Editor: Indeed. Looking closer, its elegance hints at the everyday rituals, stories, and small luxuries shaping American lives. A little vessel carrying huge significance!