Tankard, ca. 1670

Mark:
RS, capitals with a rayed circle above, enclosed in a shaped shield, bottom of tankard; IH, capitals with four pellets above, in a square, worn condition, bottom of tankard <br/>
Engraved:
BL, Hannah S Perkins to Elizabeth Child <br/>
Exhibited:
Newton College of the Sacred Heart; Newton, Massachusetts; March 10, 1963; no. 9. Salve Regina College; Newport, Rhode Island; May 17, 1964; no. 9. <br/>
Dimensions:
H. 6 3/8" D. of top 4 5/16" D. of bottom 4 3/4" 22 ozt. <br/> Although the only original parts of this tankard are the body and the handle, it is indeed a unique object in the Moore Collection. Around 1800 a spout or pouring lip was added, and the original cover was dispensed with; thus it became an open-topped pouring pitcher. George C. Gebelein removed the lip, closed the perforations, added a cover and thumbpiece so that in form and detail the object would present an original concept of an early-period covered tankard. George C. Gebelein stated that the double cusped thumbpiece would have been more likely seen on this earliest of American tankards (Gebelein, March 29, 1963). Thus this straight-sided, sturdy tankard, tapering very slightly near the rim, is an interesting example of an early-style Boston tankard by two famous silversmiths. The added flat stepped lid has a wide rim serrated and decorated with incised lines. The double-cusped thumbpiece and hinge plate give great diversity to the tankard. Deeply incised vertical lines are seen on the thumbpiece. The hinge plate ending in a shield has a wire meander crossing plate parallel to the hinge and on both sides of it. The scroll handle ends with a plain concave terminal. Around the bottom is a narrow moulded baseband. On the handle below the hinge plate, in block letters with a rayed sun between, is the monogram BL. This engraving stands for the original owner, Benjamin Lynde (Gebelein, March 29, 1963). Later added in script on the front is the inscription: "Hannah S Perkins to Elizabeth Child."