Tankard 1720 - 1730

This tankard was made by John Burt, a silversmith active in Boston in the early 18th century. It is a solid, weighty thing, standing almost eight inches tall. Its form is defined by the nature of silver itself. The material is valuable, yes, but also supremely malleable. Notice how the silversmith has exploited this quality, raising the body of the tankard from a single sheet of the metal. Then, the handle was cast and applied, along with the stepped lid, and a coin set into the thumbpiece. The processes used to create this tankard are imbued with social significance. Silver objects like this one were not just functional, they were potent symbols of status, reflecting the owner's wealth and taste. The tankard speaks to the culture of colonial Boston and the importance of skilled craftsmanship in expressing social standing. It makes you wonder what was drunk from it, and by whom, doesn’t it?