Cann
ca. 1765
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Overall: 5 x 5 5/16 in. (12.7 x 13.5 cm); 12 oz. 13 dwt. (394 g) Lip: Diam. 3 3/16 in. (8.1 cm) Foot: Diam. 3 7/16 in. (8.7 cm)
Classification
Cann
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Alphonso T. Clearwater, 1933
Accession Number
33.120.273
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegant world of colonial American silver with *Cann*, a exquisite vessel crafted by Boston silversmith Samuel Min around 1765. just over 5 inches tall with a weight of nearly 14 ounces this silver piece features a graceful profile: a 3 3/16-inch diameter and a slightly wider 3 7/16-inch foot for stability. Its compact, cylindrical form suggests it served as a drinking can or small tankard, perfect for serving beverages in refined households. In the mid-18th century, objects like this were symbols of wealth and sophistication in pre-Revolutionary America. Minott, a skilled artis...