Tankard

Art Historical Context

This elegant silver tankard, by renowned Boston silversmith Edward between 1725 and 1750, exemplifies the finest colonial American craftsmanship. Measuring nearly 8 inches tall and weighing a substantial 28 ounces, it was designed for hearty toasts with ale or punch, its hinged lid and sturdy handle making it both functional and luxurious. Winslow, active in Boston's thriving silver trade, produced pieces that rivaled European imports, blending English Queen Anne influences with emerging American ingenuity. Tankards like this were prized status symbols among the colonial elite, showcasing wealth in an era when silver was laboriously hand-wrought from imported bullion. The medium's luster and durability highlighted the silversmith's mastery of techniques like chasing, repoussé, and seaming, transforming raw metal into heirloom art. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing, this example entered the collection through the 1933 bequest of Alphonso T. Clearwater, preserving a tangible link to 18th-century New England prosperity. Imagine raising this hefty vessel at a grand feast—its broad base ensuring stability amid merry gatherings. Winslow's work underscores America's early artistic independence, bridging Old World traditions with New World ambition.