Big Discount Silver Drinking Tankard - Claim Yours [mnb7qrxB]

A sterling silver drinking mug, or tankard, with landscape engravings hand applied to the body. This fabulous, and exceptionally rare, superb quality George II drinking tankard is not only visually eye catching, but also captures a moment of English history.  The design of the drinking mug is of baluster outline, on waisted spreading foot with leaf-capped scroll handle. This was a very classic design of the period which stuck for centuries after. The most appealing part to the tankard is the hand chased and hand engraved scene that wraps around the body. A few tankards from this period come up for sale by this maker, every now and then. None of which have been found with this stunning attention to detail on the body.

The scene is very much the English countryside in a nutshell. There is a meandering river with a small hand-built stone bridge, a family of cattle feature grazing in front of the farmhouse complete with some thatched roof buildings. As the scene revolves there is a wooded area. The trees of which part in an area that was made as cartouche. There is an original, hand engraved, armorial crest applied into the space. The initials have been worn away, presumably as the original owner passed and the mug changed hands into future generations of the family. The coat of arms features a lion holding an anchor.

A lion grasping an anchor in a coat of arms generally signifies a blend of strength, bravery, and hope or salvation, frequently linked to a family or area with a maritime heritage. The lion, a prevalent heraldic emblem, embodies traits such as bravery, nobility, and royalty. Conversely, the anchor serves as a symbol of hope and salvation, and it may also represent a family's ties to the ocean.

The tankard is presented in exceptional condition.  All the hand engraving and chasing has been applied by a very fine hand indeed. The base of the tankard is fully hallmarked with English assay hallmarks from having been made in London, England in 1761. Alongside the date letter is the makers mark. The tankard was made by the workshop of Thomas Whipham & Charles Wright. Established in October of 1757, they produced a number of goods until 1767. It is a great gauge of silver, so very solid in the hand, and perfect to drink from.

A very special and early piece of Englsih silver making of the highest quality. It is not only a piece to be appreciated, but, drinking from a silver mug has a very special feeling to it. Sterling silver boasts a rich history of utilisation in drinking vessels, tracing back to ancient times. It was employed for a range of items, from basic cups to intricate goblets and tankards like this, frequently linked to affluence, social standing, and religious rituals. The perceived health advantages and antibacterial characteristics of silver further enhanced its appeal as a material for drinking vessels.