Tankard
1700–1710
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Overall: 7 1/2 x 9 1/8 in. (19.1 x 23.2 cm); 38 oz. 17 dwt. (1208.2 g) Lip: Diam. 5 3/16 in. (13.2 cm) Base: Diam. 5 3/4 in. (14.6 cm)
Classification
Tankard
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Alphonso T. Clearwater, 1933
Accession Number
33.120.517
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant silver tankard, crafted by New York silmith Gerrit Onckelbag between 1700 and 1710, exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of early colonial America. Standing 7½ inches tall and weighing nearly 39 ounces, the vessel was designed for both practical use and display, its generous proportions suited to communal toasts in prosperous households. Onckelbag, working in the Dutch-influenced tradition of New York silversmiths, employed skilled hammering, raising, and engraving techniques to create a sturdy yet graceful form. The tankard’s engraved decoration includes a prominent coat of arm...