Beaker
ca. 1775
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Overall: H. 2 15/16 in. (7.5 cm); 3 oz. (93.2 g) Lip: Diam. 2 15/16 in. (7.5 cm) Base: Diam. 2 7/16 in. (6.2 cm)
Classification
Beaker
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Alphonso T. Clearwater, 1933
Accession Number
33.120.115
Art Historical Context
This delicate silver beaker, crafted by York silversmith Thomasnde around 1775, exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of colonial America on the eve of the Revolutionary. Standing just 215/16 inches (7.5 cm) tall and weighing a modest 3 ounces (.2 g), its gently flared lip (2 15/16 inches in diameter) and sturdy base (2 7/16 inches) make it perfectly suited for sipping hot toddies or punch—staples of 18th-century social lifeSilverware like this was a mark of prosperity in early American households and taverns, often passed down through generations as heirlooms. Lynde's work reflects the transa...