Tankard 1715 - 1720

Curator: This is a silver tankard by John Burt, born in 1692. It stands about 19 centimeters tall. What are your initial thoughts? Editor: It’s striking how the reflective surface captures the light, creating a sense of almost ethereal purity despite its functional design. Curator: Absolutely. Burt was working in Boston; these tankards were symbols of wealth and status within colonial society. It’s not just a drinking vessel but an assertion of social standing. Editor: The handle, with its subtle curve and decorative thumbpiece, adds a touch of elegance. It’s a perfect marriage of form and function. Curator: Indeed, though we must also consider who was excluded from this display of affluence. Whose labor produced the silver, and who was denied its use? Editor: Thinking about its material presence and historical weight, I'm struck by how the craftsman’s skill elevates it beyond mere utility. Curator: Understanding that colonial context transforms our appreciation of its form. Editor: Precisely. The interplay between light and form provides a window into the past.