Mug 1795 - 1816

This mug was made by Samuel Danforth around the turn of the 19th century, out of pewter, an alloy of tin and other metals such as lead and antimony. Pewter was a common material for domestic objects at this time, prized for its durability and affordability. The metal would have been cast in a mold, then finished by hand, with details like the handle carefully shaped and attached. Notice the subtle tooling marks on the body of the mug, a direct trace of the maker’s hand. The surface is smooth but shows wear, telling a story of use and daily life. Danforth was part of a family of pewterers, tapping into a widespread system of workshops and distribution networks. The mug represents a moment of increasing industrialization, when handmade goods began to compete with factory production. While a seemingly simple object, it embodies complex issues of labor, skill, and the changing landscape of American craft. So, next time you pick up a mug, consider the history it holds in its very material.