Tankard 1695 - 1705

This silver tankard was made by Jacob Boelen, a New York silversmith of Dutch descent, in the late 17th or early 18th century. The tankard speaks volumes about the cultural landscape of early colonial America, where the influence of Dutch craftsmanship intertwined with the burgeoning wealth of New York's elite. Boelen, as a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, navigated a society undergoing significant transformation. The tankard becomes more than a mere drinking vessel; it's a symbol of status, of belonging, and of the complex negotiation of identity in a colonial world. Consider the weight of the silver, the deliberate craftsmanship, and the initials of the owner etched onto its surface. This object invites us to reflect on the stories it could tell about social gatherings, personal narratives, and the shaping of cultural identity in early New York.