ANTIQUE SILVER TANKARDS
Antique Silver tankards Description:
An open or lidded mug with a side handle for drinking ale, mead, or beer.
Antique Silver tankards History:
Early pre-1700 tankards are always of the larger (more than one pint) capacity with hinged covers. Later pint and hal-pint tankards (often called mugs) did not have a cover but were of the same basic design. The earliest known example date from about 1600 and they were made thoughout the Georgian, Victorian and 20th century periods. They are still being made today.
Antique Silver tankards Design:
Most of the very early examples were always round and straight-sided with flat lids. Later tankards and mugs were characterised by balustered bodies with bellies, waists, and pedestal feet. The handles varied from scroll shapes through to plain loops. Most Victorian tankards were engraved or chased with floral or geometric decoration. Many had beautiful pastoral scenes which in many examples were works of art in their own right.
Antique Silver tankards Collectors Note:
Look closely at the hallmarks. Early lidded tankards should have a makers mark on the handle and there should be a corresponding mark on the lid. Treat very early lidded tankards with marks underneath with suspicion. Check to make sure that where the handle is attached to the body that there are no repair marks. Inspect the main body and check for thin spots where crests and monograms have been erased.