Antique American Silver Tankard

Object Description

A rare early American silver tankard of plain tapering form with a hinged lid and decorative thumb piece. The front is hand engraved with a coat of arms within a simple shield.

Contains 1350 ml.
Weight 954 grams, 30.6 troy ounces.
Height 23 cm (to top of lid finial). Spread 17.5 cms. Diameter 10.5 cms (top), base (base).
The body is stamped with the makers mark for Jacob Hurd, Boston, Massachusetts.
Circa 1750.

Biography – Jacob Hurd, American silversmith, apprenticed to John Edwards circa 1720. Worked 1723-1755. Highly regarded Boston silversmith with a prodigious output of traditional silver forms, such as tankards, cream pots, porringers and peppers. Working at a time when the colonies were still looking to England for fine craftsmanship, Jacob Hurd established himself among the gentry, who considered his work as fine as any imported from the mother country. Two of Jacob’s sons, Benjamin (1739-1781) and Nathaniel (1730-1777), were also accomplished silversmiths and all of them produced work that was owned by families as well as churches in the Boston area.

Object Condition

This rare antique silver tankard is in very good condition with no damage or restoration. Good patina. The body is stamped with an American maker’s mark which is rubbed but can be clearly be identified as that of Jacob Hurd of Boston, MA (the 3rd mark “IHurd” in the photo of Jacob Hurd marks).

Please note that this item is not new and will show moderate signs of wear commensurate with age. Reflections in the photograph may detract from the true representation of this item.

Object Details