Tankard 1687 - 1690

This silver tankard was crafted by Jeremiah Dummer in the late 17th or early 18th century. Its gleaming surface and sturdy form speak to a burgeoning era of colonial craftsmanship. Consider the handle: its elegant curve, reminiscent of a serpent winding its way up the vessel's side. Snakes, across cultures from ancient Greece with the Caduceus to indigenous Australian Dreamtime stories of the Rainbow Serpent, embody potent forces of healing, transformation, and primal energy. Now, observe the tankard's lid, a protective barrier, ensuring the purity of the drink within. This motif of safeguarding and containment echoes in reliquaries and sacred vessels throughout history, underscoring a desire to preserve and protect what is most valued. The lid's knob is a stylized crown. The tankard thus becomes more than a mere drinking vessel, it is an artifact laden with subconscious meanings, a powerful symbol, resonating with cultural memory and ancestral echoes.