Silver Tankard Cup
These silver tankard cup pieces span domestic drinking vessels and small presentation mugs, offering tactile metalwork for daily use or display.
Silver Tankard Cup
A silver tankard cup search brings up a varied selection of drinking vessels, from small christening mugs to pint-sized beer vessels. The material crosses eras, appearing in Georgian solid silver, Victorian plate, and Edwardian or George V designs.
Christening mugs form a large share of the available objects, often featuring floral engraving, baluster bodies, or scroll handles. Larger loving cups and harvest vessels also surface alongside smaller tankards.
Materials and construction
Makers utilised sterling silver, silver plate, and Old Sheffield Plate, shaping metal into practical drinking vessels with applied handles. Gilded interiors, known as silver gilt or gold gilt, appear alongside plain bodies and embossed exterior scenes.
Surface decoration relies on hand engraving, repoussé embossing, and cast decorative handles taking forms such as owls or scrolls.
Judging the work
Weight and metal thickness distinguish heavier solid silver pieces from plated alternatives, while the crispness of hand engraving dictates the visual depth of decorated surfaces. Maker marks and clear hallmarks anchor the origin and period of the object.
Form integrity, such as a balanced baluster shape and a secure handle join, separates standard production items from finer workshop examples.
Barker Bros·R E Stone·G R Collis·William Bateman·Charles Price
The Silver Tankard Cup Glossary
- Silver Gilt
- Solid silver that has been coated with a thin layer of gold on the interior or exterior surface.
- Old Sheffield Plate
- A composite material made by fusing a layer of silver to a copper base, typical of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.
- Baluster
- A vase-shaped architectural form featuring a rounded lower body tapering to a narrower neck, commonly seen on mugs and tankards.
- Loving Cup
- A large drinking vessel equipped with two or three handles, designed to be passed around a company.
Silver Tankard Cup: Frequently Asked Questions
What were silver tankard cups used for?
These vessels served for drinking ale, beer, or other beverages at table, while smaller versions functioned as christening gifts.
Over time, many of the smaller handled cups transitioned into presentation pieces or decorative mantel items rather than active tableware.
How do I date a silver mug?
Hallmarks stamped into the metal provide the most reliable dating evidence, indicating the assay office and year of production.
Stylistic markers like Rococo scrolls, Arts and Crafts simplicity, or Victorian embossing also help place an object within a specific decade.
What is Old Sheffield Plate?
Old Sheffield Plate is an early fusing technique where a sheet of silver is melted onto a copper core before rolling.
This method predates electroplating and leaves characteristic traces of copper showing along exposed edges or wear points.
Why are some mugs gilded inside?
Silver gilt interiors protected the base metal from tarnishing when acidic liquids like wine or beer were consumed.
This gold wash added a decorative contrast to the polished exterior silver body.