Tankard
1764–98
Medium
Pewter
Dimensions
H. 8 1/8 in. (20.6 cm)
Classification
Tankard
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. J. Insley Blair, 1939
Accession Number
39.185.7
Art Historical Context
This elegant pewter tankard, crafted by William Will between 1764 1798, exemplifies finest traditions of colonial American metalwork. Standing at 8 1/8 inches tall, it served as a practical yet prestigious drinking vessel for ale or beer in households across the early United States. Pewter, an alloy primarily of tin with traces of antimony and copper, offered an accessible shine rivaling silver, making it a staple for middle-class tables during the Revolutionary era. William Will, active during a pivotal time bridging British colonial rule and the young republic, represented the peak of Ameri...