Tankard (schnelle) with three coats of arms 1590

This salt-glazed stoneware tankard, or schnelle, was made in Germany by H. Hilgers. The three coats of arms displayed on the schnelle point to the cultural importance of lineage in the region where it was made, an area defined by its fragmented political landscape of aristocratic families. The coats of arms visually express the individual’s social status, and the tankard embodies a culture marked by social and political hierarchies. These heraldic symbols also tell us something about the role of craftsmanship at this time. By decorating functional objects like tankards with these emblems of nobility, the artist is catering to a particular clientele. The tankard illustrates the value placed on social identity and the structures of power that determine it. To understand it better, historical resources like genealogical records, local histories, and studies of German social structure would be invaluable. The tankard serves as a potent reminder of the relationship between art, social status, and the ever-changing dynamics of power.