Tankard 1720 - 1730

This silver tankard was crafted by John Le Roux, a silversmith active in New York during the early 18th century. Its simple cylindrical form and prominent handle are characteristic of the period, yet the inscriptions transform it into a vessel of memory. Consider the act of drinking itself, a ritual deeply embedded in human history and social interaction. Vessels such as this are not merely functional; they become potent symbols of conviviality, ceremony, and remembrance. The tankard's presence evokes a sense of communal identity, much like the symposiums of ancient Greece, where wine and conversation intertwined to forge cultural and intellectual bonds. This continuity of form and function across centuries reveals how certain archetypal images and gestures persist in the collective consciousness. The act of sharing a drink, immortalized in silver, links us to past generations, reminding us of our shared human experiences.