Tankard 1670 - 1700

This silver tankard was crafted by Thomas Savage Sr., a silversmith active in Boston during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Savage was part of a colonial society grappling with issues of identity, class, and cultural expression. Silver objects like this weren't just functional; they were potent symbols of wealth and status. Consider the era in which this tankard was made. It was a time of growing economic disparity in colonial America, with a small elite accumulating significant wealth while others struggled. Drinking vessels such as this tankard would have been used within a specifically gendered and classed space. What stories of connection, celebration, and commerce could this object hold? Savage's work reflects the complex interplay between local craftsmanship, imported styles, and the burgeoning sense of American identity. This tankard invites us to reflect on the values and material culture of early colonial society.