Description

Extremely rare. An unusually large early English silver peg tankard, flat lidded, and having a vertical row of seven pegs inside. Good patina. Lovely plain design and beaten silver. To the front there is a large contemporary armorial within tied plumage.

Contains in excess of 2000 ml, 4 pints.

Weight 1165 gms, 37.4 troy ounces.

Height 19.75 cms (to top of thumb piece). Diameter 15 cms (lid), 13 cms (top), 15 cms (of base).

Fully marked on the body,

London 1671.

Makers mark only on lid and handle (more details below).

Sterling silver

Literature: 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 ref: http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/195229

This rare antique silver tankard is in very good condition. Good patina. The engraved armorial within plumage is crisp and in keeping with the period. A nice feature is the mark on top of the handle where the thumb piece has been touching for 340 years (see photo). Silver marks. Body and handle marked with maker's mark IH and 2 fleur de lys in a lozenge, mark identified in Jacksons page 130 as that on the Dobbin tankard dated 1671*. Lid stamped 4 times with makers mark only for Dorothy Grant, widow of William Grant, mark identified in Jacksons page 136 as that on a tankard dated 1681*. Both IH and DG are noted as contemporary tankard makers. *There are no precise records of silver makers marks prior to 1681 as all records were destroyed in the fire at Goldsmiths Hall in that year when the Assay Office and apartments of the Assayer and Clerk in the south west wing of the building were burned down.

No maker assigned

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