Britannia Standard Silver Quart and a Half Tankard - Antique William III

Description

This exceptional antique William III Britannia silver tankard has a plain tapering cylindrical form onto a spreading collet style foot.

The surface of this 18th century quart and a half* tankard is plain and unembellished, encircled with bands of tooled decoration, with an applied moulded border to the upper rim.

This antique English silver tankard retains the original stepped flat topped, hallmarked cover surmounted with an impressive cast silver volute scrolling thumbpiece.

The posterior surface of the thumbpiece is embellished with a chased simplified floral design; this is a fine feature and indicates the high quality of the piece.

The cover is further ornamented with a band of tooled decoration to the rim accented with an applied shaped thumbpiece to the anterior edge.

This antique Britannia standard** silver tankard is fitted with an S scroll handle ornamented with a plain rounded terminal.

The hinge is decorated with pendant drop style ornamentation in junction with the upper portion of the handle, in addition to engraved initials 'AL' to the handpiece.

The spreading collet foot is encircled with a band of applied moulded decoration to the rim.

* 1.5 Imperial quart = 3 pints / 1.7 litres

** 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).

Read a brief history of antique silver tankards and mugs