Tankards have covers, Mugs and Canns do not.  The Tankard began with a straight side, flat top, cast thumb piece and a hollow handle in the 1640’s. By the 1670’s it had an applied base molding and the lid had a slight step. In 1680-1695 the lid had a second step and the handle and thumb piece were becoming more elaborate. In the 1690’s Tankards sometimes showed embossing of acanthus leaves or fluting on the body or Chinoiserie flat chasing or engraving. The Queen Anne Tankards (c.1705) frequently had cut card work at the handle sockets and on the lid.

In England from 1710-1740 the lids developed a dome; the bodies frequently had mid-bands or a slightly tuck-under base with a cast, applied foot.

In America the regional differences were more pronounced. The 18^th century saw baluster Tankards with mid-bands and a domed lid in New England while New York Tankards tended to keep a flat lid and a straight body. Baluster Tankards are seen in both New York and Philadelphia, although not often.

Mugs in England are Canns in America.

Stylistically, they follow the evolution of Tankards. From 1700 – 1730 they are straight sided; the earlier ones, although they are somewhat straight sided have spiral fluting. There was a slight tuck-under base appearing about 1715 with a cast, scroll handle. After 1735 the baluster shape was predominant until the 1790’s when the ribbed or hooped body appeared in Tankards, Mugs and Canns. This shape ultimately developed a slight barrel appearance.

Beakers were straight sided with slightly flared lips and taller in the late 16^th century. By 1660 they had become shorter with reeded, applied base bands. Beakers, as functional items, remained almost unchanged for 200 years, only the decoration varied. Throughout the 18^th century they remained plain. By the 1790’s beakers were developing a slightly bulbous form and later became reeded or hooped. Beakers can be either raised or seamed although the seamed are predominant.

Goblets were usually vase shaped, on a stem with a foot. The bodies can be partially or entirely fluted and they can have a caulked or applied, reeded lip. In the 19^th century they frequently had embossed decoration on the body.

 

 

Return To Antique Silver Main Page

Click the camera icon for a larger view of each image

 

Tankard by OTTO PAUL & DAVID de PARISIEN New York City, c.1785 6 ½” tall; 38 ozs. Flat Top Tankard by Otto Paul de Parisien and his son David. Slightly flared, straight sided Tankard; the lid having a corkscrew thumb piece and notching in the front. The cast “s” scroll handle has an unusual ball terminal. The front of the Body has a contemporary cypher “JAHAJ”. Marked twice on the base “OPDP”. price upon request
Tankard by ANDREW UNDERHILL New York City, c.1790 8 ½” tall; 32 ozs. Baluster Tankard with a cast applied mid-band, cast shell thumb piece, and a cast, applied heraldic terminal at the end of the “S” scroll handle. Engraved with the contemporary Coat-of-Arms of the “LATHAM” Family above the mid-band along with the contemporary initials of “SL” for “DR. SAMUEL LATHAM” of Cows Neck Long Island below the mid-band. Marked “A.UNDERHILL” “N-YORK” twice on the base. Reference: “Fairbairn’s Crests of the Families of Great Britain and Ireland” published by Cassell, Petter & Galpin, London and New York; Volume I, p. 281 and Volume II, plate 123, crest 11. price upon request
Cann by WILLIAM HOLLINGSHEAD Philadelphia, c.1785 4 ¾” tall; 13 ozs. 7 dwts. Baluster Cann on a circular cast and applied foot with a cast and applied leaf capped “S” scroll handle. Contemporary script initials “MD” are engraved on the front. Marked “WH” in script four times on the base. price upon request
Pair of Goblets by JOHN McMULLIN Philadelphia, c.1805 5 3/8” tall; 18 ozs. Pair of Goblets with lobed lower bodies and slight flair at the lip on a circular trumpet foot. Marked “I.McMullin” once on the outside edge of each foot. SOLD
Cann by ABRAHAM CARLILE Philadelphia, c.1785 5 ½” tall; 13 ozs. 12 dwts. Baluster Cann with a leaf capped scroll handle. The contemporary script initials “SR” on the front. The contemporary block initials “IR to SR” on the base with the later initials “JRT 6-10-52” also on the base. Marked once “A.Carlile” in script on the base. Note: The initials are for “SARAH ROBERTS” (1750-1840) who was given the Cann by her father “JOHN ROBERTS” (1721-1778). Sarah married “GEORGE THOMAS” (1746-1793) in May 1774. The Cann then passed to their only son “JOHN ROBERTS THOMAS” (1781-1856). price upon request
Cann by WILLIAM HOLLINGSHEAD Philadelphia, c.1780 4 ¼” tall; 11 ozs. 10 dwts. Straight-sided cann with molded rim and foot; leaf capped scroll handle. Contemporary script monogram “IMB” on the front. Marked “WH” in script four times on the base. price upon request
Pr. Canns by LEWIS & SMITH Philadelphia, c.1810 3 ¾” tall; 19 ozs. 6 dwts. Reeded Canns with harp shaped handles, the applied “leaf cap” on the handles being slightly different on each. Contemporary engraving on the base “Mary Wistar to Isabella L. Pennock” on one and “Mary Wistar to Casper W. Pennock” on the other. The “Wistar Morris” family was a prominent brewing family in the Philadelphia area. Marked “Lewis & Smith” in script once on the base. price upon request
The Plymouth Church Beakers By EPHRAIM BRASHER New York City, dated 1794 6 Beakers in the set; 4 5/8" high, 38ozs. Tapered cylindrical form with averted rims and molded base bands; marked “E.B” twice on each base and engraved with the contemporary presentation inscriptions as follows: One Beaker reads: “The GIFT of Martha Welch to the SECOND Church of Milford 1794” The other five Beakers read: “The GIFT of the Sisters to the SECOND Church of Milford 1794” *note: for more information & to view a more detailed description click on the camera. price upon request
Tankard by SIMEON SOUMAINE New York City, c.1730 8" tall 48 ozs. 10 dwts. Flat topped, tapering cylindrical Tankard on molded foot with bead border; the scroll handle with a cast cork screw thumb piece and an oval terminal; the handle also with applied drop down the back and the block initials " W   I*M " Marked "SS" once on the base. price upon request

 

Return To Antique Silver Main Page