Tankards
Handsome antique silver tankards are very collectable. They make a stunning display and can be used and enjoyed over the passage of time. A perfect gift.
The term “Tankard” is traditionally used for a single handed drinking vessel with a lid. Antique silver tankards are usually much bigger than mugs and sometimes have a quart capacity or more. The earliest date at which the familiar shaped tankard occurs is circa 1640 although these are exceedingly rare.
The name ‘Peg Tankard’ is derived from the vertical row of cylindrical pegs soldered inside the tankard, used to measure the amount of alcohol drunk as the tankard was passed around the table. Each drinker could drink his allocated peg measure. The term ‘peg’ probably derives from the Danish measure ‘paegl’, roughly equivalent to a pint. Peg tankards have a long history in the Scandinavian and Baltic countries. In England peg tankards were made from the mid-1650s through to the 1680s in York, Hull and other north-eastern towns with close cultural links with northern Europe. They usually follow the Scandinavian form, incorporating floral engraving and pomegranate feet. There is a plain example similar to this in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Tankards
Handsome antique silver tankards are very collectable. They make a stunning display and can be used and enjoyed over the passage of time. A perfect gift.
The term “Tankard” is traditionally used for a single handed drinking vessel with a lid. Antique silver tankards are usually much bigger than mugs and sometimes have a quart capacity or more. The earliest date at which the familiar shaped tankard occurs is circa 1640 although these are exceedingly rare.
The name ‘Peg Tankard’ is derived from the vertical row of cylindrical pegs soldered inside the tankard, used to measure the amount of alcohol drunk as the tankard was passed around the table. Each drinker could drink his allocated peg measure. The term ‘peg’ probably derives from the Danish measure ‘paegl’, roughly equivalent to a pint. Peg tankards have a long history in the Scandinavian and Baltic countries. In England peg tankards were made from the mid-1650s through to the 1680s in York, Hull and other north-eastern towns with close cultural links with northern Europe. They usually follow the Scandinavian form, incorporating floral engraving and pomegranate feet. There is a plain example similar to this in the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
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1659
Anthony Ficketts
9875 Commonwealth Silver Tankard
£15,950
A rare early English silver flat top lidded tankard with a cast, kidney shaped thumbpiece. The S-scroll handle has a shield terminal. Circa 1640 is the earliest date at which this tankard shape occurs and it’s unusual to find a tankard from this turbulent period and early date. Very charming, with hand beaten silver, the tankard displays a lot of character; a nice feature is the pointed front of the lid. Hand engraved to the front with a flat topped shield within ostrich plume feathers, a popular style of engraving from 1660-1690. Contains 1300 ml. Weight 763 grams, 24.5 troy ounces. Height 16.3cm (to top of thumb piece). Spread 15.7 cm. Diameter 11.4cm (inside top), 13.3 cm (base). London 1659. Maker Anthony Ficketts, attribution by David Mitchell “Silversmiths in Elizabethan and Stuart London”. Sterling silver.
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1678
10435 Charles II Antique Silver Tankard
£22,500
An exceptional example of early English chinoiserie silver. A finely engraved tankard with the flat hinged lid and “S” scroll handle typical of the period. Large size and good heavy weight. The body and lid are beautifully flat chased in the Chinese style with oriental figures, a snake-coiled fountain, a temple and exotic birds all within a fantastical forest landscape. The plain scroll is pricked with initials “B.I.M”. Contains 1500 ml. Weight 804g, 25.8 troy oz. Height 17.7cm (to top of thumb piece), 7ins. Spread 19.5cm, 7.7ins. Diameter 14cm (top), 5.5cm. London 1678. Maker “RH”. Sterling silver.
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1680
John Ruslen
10242 Charles II Antique Silver Tankard
£7,750
A good early English silver lidded tankard with the flat top design of the period and a scroll handle with decorative thumb piece. Large size. To the front is a crisp hand engraved armorial capped by the crest of a lion holding a serpent and with a motto below – for the Leche family. There is an owl crest engraved to the lid. An excellent example of early hand beaten silver with lots of character. Contains 1450 ml. Weight 852 grams, 27.3 troy ounces. Height 18 cm. Spread 21.3 cm. London 1680. Maker “IR” (see Jacksons page 130), probably John Ruslen (see David Mitchell’s “Silversmiths in Elizabethan and Stuart London”.
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1686
Thomas Cooper
9938 James II Antique Silver Tankard
£7,950
A fine and rare early English sterling silver tankard with a flat hinged cover. Excellent size and quality. Good patina. With a scroll handle, decorative thumb piece and shield shaped terminal. A fabulous collector’s piece and still able to be used. To the front is a crisp armorial hand engraved within plumage feathers, in keeping with the period. An excellent example of early hand beaten silver with lots of character. Contains 1400 ml. Weight 731 grams, 23.5 troy ounces. Height 15.3cm, 17.5cm (to top of thumbpiece). Diameter 12cm (top), 13.5cm (base). Spread 20.5cm. London 1686. Maker “TC, a fish above” probably Thomas Cooper, attributed by David Mitchell. Sterling silver.
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1701
Seth Lofthouse
10234 William III Antique Silver Tankard
£6,500
A good early English silver flat lidded tankard. Britannia standard silver*. Lovely plain design and hand beaten silver. The tankard has a simple straight sided form and S scroll handle finishing in a decorative thumb piece with shell decoration. Hand engraved to the front there is a large decorative cartouche containing an armorial. Good patina. An interesting feature is the royal stamp for ‘William Rex’ on the reverse side of the body. Contains 1075 ml. Weight 759 grams, 24.3 troy ounces. Height 18 cms (to top of thumb piece). Spread 19cms. Diameter 10.8 cms (top). London 1701. Maker Seth Lofthouse.
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1701
Humphrey Payne
9599 William III Silver Tankard
£4,250
A good early English antique silver tankard with a flat lid. Britannia standard silver*. Lovely plain design and hand beaten silver. The tankard has a simple straight sided form and S scroll handle finishing in a decorative thumb piece. No engravings except the owner’s initials prick engraved to the handle. Contains 900 ml. Weight 624 grams, 20 troy ounces. Height 16.4 cm (to top of thumb piece). Spread 18.5 cms. Diameter 10.5 cms (top). London 1701. Maker Humphrey Payne.
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1705
William Denny
9945 Queen Anne Antique Silver Tankard
£7,500
An extremely large and imposing silver lidded tankard of tapering cylindrical form with a coopered band to the body. Britannia standard silver*. The embossed vertical fluting and bands of hand chased matted decoration are typical of the period. To the front is a hand engraved armorial within a large decorative cartouche. An unusual feature is the double thumb piece which attaches to both the handle and the lid. The handle has engraved owner’s initials. Good patina. Contains 1750 ml. Weight 1325 grams, 42.6 troy ounces. Height 21.2cm (to top of thumb piece). Diameter 12.8cm (top). Spread 23cm. London 1705. Maker William Denny.
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1733
Richard Burcombe
9090 George II Antique Silver Tankard
Sold
An antique silver lidded tankard with domed lid. Lovely plain design with simple straight sided form. The body has a concentric reed ring to the base of the handle, the S scroll handle finishes in a decorative thumb piece. Uninscribed. Good patina. Owners initials hand engraved to the top of the handle. Contains 800 ml. Weight 587 grams, 15.5 troy ounces. Height 16 cms (to top of thumb piece). Spread 16.5 cms. Diameter 9.7 cms (top). London 1733. Maker Richard Burcombe. Sterling silver.
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1770
W & J Priest
8561 George III Antique Silver Lidded Tankard
£1,450
A good antique sterling silver tankard with domed hinged lid. Plain straight sided design with concentric rim and flared base. Acanthus decorated thumbpiece. There is a large contemporary monogram to the front in old fashioned cursive script. Contains 850ml. Weight 571 grams, 18.3 troy ounces. Height 18 cms. Spread 16 cms. Diameter of top 10 cms, base 11.25 cms. London 1770. Maker W & J Priest.
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