Tankard
ca. 1725
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
7 1/8 × 8 3/8 in., 1100g (18.1 × 21.3 cm, 35.366 oz.) Lip diameter: 4 5/8 in. (11.7 cm) Diam. of base: 5 5/8 in. (14.3 cm)
Classification
Tankard
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Collection of Giovanni P. Morosini, presented by his daughter Giulia, 1932
Accession Number
32.75.73
Art Historical Context
This elegant silver tankard, crafted by New York silversmith John Roux around 1725, exemplifies the finest colonial American silverwork. Standing at 7 1/8 inches tall a substantial 35-ounce weight, it features a baluster shape, flared lip (4 5/8 inches in diameter), and sturdy base (5 5/8 inches across), designed for serving ale or beer at gatherings. Le Roux, active in early 18th-century New, marked his pieces with a distinctive touchmark, reflecting the Huguenot silversmithing traditions brought by European immigrants. Tankards like this were prized status symbols among America's emerging m...