Tankard with cover 19th century

Editor: This is a 19th-century tankard with a cover, attributed to Elkington & Co. It seems to be made with metal and some kind of carved material. It's quite ornate and striking! What do you see in this piece? Curator: I'm drawn to the symbology at play here. Notice how the cherubic figures aren't merely decorative; they are winged. The winged figure represents celestial guidance, and the cup represents earthly containment. Together, it merges Heaven with Earth in a symbolic vessel of cultural memory. What story do you think this object is intended to communicate? Editor: It looks like they are wrestling. Perhaps it's intended to be playful and convey ideas about youthful strength? I imagine beer was served from it and displayed, rather than drunk often. Curator: Exactly! It's not just about immediate aesthetics but invoking values, linking them to tradition. Think about it: These images evoke Greco-Roman motifs, reborn during the Renaissance, and reverberating into the 19th century. This stylistic continuity isn't accidental, right? Editor: That’s so interesting – so the cup connects the user to multiple pasts? How powerful to activate these emotional connections with daily use. Curator: Precisely. Everyday objects like this carried visual vocabulary that whispered across centuries. Next time, examine seemingly ornamental choices: you will decode messages of lasting value. Editor: This was really insightful, to look deeper into a piece that, at first glance, seems decorative and appreciate its place within history!