"Farlow Cup" Tankard c. 20th century

Curator: Oh, look at this impressive object! It's a tankard, a "Farlow Cup" made by Bigelow, Kennard & Co. Editor: Immediately, I'm struck by how this vessel embodies both opulence and ritual. It feels like a relic from some bygone era of exclusive gatherings. Curator: I imagine it filled to the brim with celebratory ale. I am curious about the class dynamics at play. A trophy of sorts, right? Who gets to drink from it, who cleans it, and who is excluded? Editor: Precisely. Drinking vessels often signal social status and this elaborate design reinforces those structures. Curator: And yet, there's something playfully absurd about its size. You could probably drown your sorrows, and a small dog, in this thing! Editor: It represents the weighty inheritance of tradition, a tangible symbol of power and belonging that still resonates, if perhaps ironically, in our contemporary world. Curator: It definitely makes you ponder what types of ceremonies and social dynamics shaped its existence, doesn't it? Editor: Indeed. This tankard invites us to critically examine who is afforded access to legacy and privilege.