Object Description
An early antique silver tankard with straight sides and S-form handle. Britannia standard silver. Typical decoration of the period with a gadroon band around the centre, hand engraved foliate star motifs around the top, and a beaded band around the base. Excellent colour. Good gauge silver. To the front is a vacant cartouche with scroll and fish scale decoration.
Contains 550ml.
Weight 355g, 11.4 troy oz.
Height 12.2cm, 4.8ins. Spread 14cm. Diameter 8.8cm (top), 10.4cm (base).
London 1707.
Maker John East.
Britannia standard silver.
18th century.
This impressive mug is a very practical item to use and enjoy.
Marks. Stamped on the body below the top rim with a full set of English silver hallmarks, maker’s mark to the handle. Owner’s initials to the base. Scratch weight 12-1-0.
Britannia Standard silver is 95.8% pure. In 1696, so extensive had become the melting and clipping of coinage that the silversmiths were forbidden to use the sterling standard for their wares, but had to use a new higher standard, 95.8 per cent pure. New hallmarks were ordered, “the figure of a woman commonly called Britannia” and the lion’s head erased (torn off at the neck) replacing the lion passant and the leopard’s head crowned. This continued until the old standard of 92.5 per cent was restored in 1720.
Maker: John East
John East, London silversmith, apprenticed to George Garthorne 1689, free 1696. 1st mark entered as largeworker 1697, address Foster Lane. Livery 1708. 2nd mark (sterling) 1721.
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