Tankard 1740 - 1765

Curator: Here we have a tankard, crafted from silver, believed to have been made somewhere between 1740 and 1765 in the United States. It’s part of the Metropolitan Museum's collection. Editor: Immediately, I notice the stark simplicity. It's weighty, reflective, solid—the material presence speaks volumes. Curator: Absolutely. The material speaks of status, of course. Silver during this period was a symbol of wealth and societal position, a means of expressing lineage through engraved emblems. Editor: Tell me more about that emblem. I am curious as to why this symbol was put there rather than somewhere else on the form, because right now it gets visually crushed and overpowered by everything else that’s going on in the piece. It also strikes me as the plain areas call to mind ideas about reflection and sociality. The tankard almost operates as a mirror and center for conversation, but this symbol appears as if they may not actually want others getting too close, thus giving this vessel conflicting meanings. Curator: Good question. Crests were central to self-expression among elites in the 18th century. Beyond displaying your family, displaying status was everything. Owning silver signaled refinement. Consider it this way: drinking from this tankard was about participating in social rituals. Editor: So, you see this piece in terms of ritual and social exchange, while I consider its spatial logic and structural principles, that actually supports your claims even more.. How the handle, lid, and cylindrical form come together communicates not only utility but an understanding of balance, gravity, and ultimately a conversation surrounding aesthetics. Curator: Indeed, it seems a conversation about much more than just aesthetics— a moment crystallized through this utilitarian object. Editor: For me, the gleaming metal catches and diffuses the light around it. I feel like I'm observing more than just an artifact; I'm encountering an interactive structure that creates the atmosphere for gatherings and conversation!