Britannia Standard Silver Quart Tankard - Antique Queen Anne (1704)

Description

This magnificent antique Queen Anne Britannia standard silver* quart tankard has a plain tapering cylindrical form onto a spreading foot.

The surface of this 18th century silver tankard is plain and encircled with an applied girdle to the lower portion, in addition to bands of tooled decoration below the moulded rim.

This antique quart** tankard retains the original hallmarked cover surmounted with an unusual and rare cast silver thumbpiece, realistically modelled in the form of a lion couchant.

The cover is further ornamented with a band of tooled decoration to the rim accented with an applied moulded border.

The hinge is decorated with ribbed pendant drop ornamentation to the upper portion of the handpiece.

This Queen Anne silver tankard is fitted with a hallmarked S scroll handle ornamented with a hexagonal shaped terminal and bears the contemporary engraved initials 'I L H'.

The spreading foot is encircled with further bands of applied moulded decoration.

* Britannia Silver - The Britannia silver standard of 958 (95.84% of fine silver), denoted by the icon of the seated Britannia holding an oval shield, was introduced by William III in 1697. This was to indicate the slightly higher standard of silver from sterling silver standard of 925 (92.5% of fine silver).

** Imperial quart = 2 pints/1.14 litres

Read a brief history of antique mugs and tankards