Tankard

British mounts with British or Dutch glassware

ca. 1675

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 509

The adornment of already precious vessels by the application of silver mounts has a long tradition in England. Here the value of the tankard so beautifully embellished resided in the innovative glass technology used to make it. The vessel was perhaps imported from The Netherlands, but it may have been made in London, perhaps under the auspices of the glass merchant George Ravenscroft. The engraved decoration of the tankard appears to be English, and the silver mounts certainly are. Originally clear, to resemble rock crystal, the glass crizzled – internally broke down – shortly after it was made to give a pleasing smoky effect. Nonetheless, the tankard remained a highly valued art object.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

Exhibition History

Title: Tankard
Date: ca. 1675
Culture: British mounts with British or Dutch glassware
Medium: Engraved glass; silver mounts
Dimensions: Overall (confirmed): 9 7/8 × 5 1/16 × 7 5/16 in. (25.1 × 12.9 × 18.6 cm)
Classifications: Glass, Metalwork-Silver In Combination
Credit Line: Purchase, Rogers Fund, by exchange, Gift of Douglas Dillon, by exchange, and Gift of Mrs. Constance D. Steiglitz, in memory of her husband, Marcel H. Stieglitz, by exchange, 2016
Object Number: 2016.491
Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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