Tankard 1700 - 1730

This silver tankard was made by Jacob Marius Groen, a silversmith working in the Dutch Republic during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The tankard speaks to the burgeoning wealth and trade networks of the Dutch Golden Age. Silver, as a valuable material, signaled status and prosperity. Objects like these were not just functional, but also symbols of social standing in a hierarchical society. The level of craftsmanship reflects the highly developed guild system of the time, which set standards for quality and skill. Looking closely at the tankard, we can consider its place within the social rituals of drinking and hospitality. It is a tangible link to a specific time and place and clues to understanding the economic and social structures that shaped its creation. To truly understand this object, one needs to dig deeper into the archives of Dutch trade, guild records, and family histories.