Tankard 1700 - 1730

This silver tankard was crafted by Bartholomew Schaats in the 18th century, a vessel gleaming with subtle yet potent symbols. Note the cherubic figure supporting the handle, a motif harking back to classical antiquity, where winged figures bridged the earthly and divine. Consider how such figures, initially messengers of the gods, morphed into symbols of innocence and divine love during the Renaissance. The cherub's face, often seen in funerary art, also reminds us of the transience of life. Furthermore, the vessel itself, a container, echoes the ancient symbol of the womb, representing both sustenance and community. The tankard, therefore, is not merely a drinking vessel but a confluence of cultural memory, a silent carrier of evolving meanings that engage our collective subconscious. Its polished surface reflects our own faces back at us, inviting us to participate in its ever-unfolding story.