Tankard
1689-94 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Flat-lidded tankards in silver are known from the late 1630s and pewter tankards of this form were made shortly afterwards.
Technique
The decoration on this tankard was created by a technique known as 'wrigglework'. In this, a zigzag line was made by pushing a narrow chisel across the surface of the metal, and moving it from side to side. Wrigglework was not carried out by trained engravers, but by journeymen working in the pewterers' workshops, almost certainly to cut costs.
Historical Associations
Towards the end of the 17th century royal portraits were used to decorate a wide variety of wares in Britain, including pewter. The portraits appear to have been copied from contemporary coins and medals. One group of these wares is a series of flat-lidded pewter tankards decorated with royal portraits done in 'wrigglework'. Thirteen have been recorded so far, eight by one particular maker, who seems to have specialised in their manufacture.
The Maker
The eight tankards are struck with the touch-mark RS. Two London pewterers have been suggested as the maker. The first is Robert Seare, who recorded his touch at Pewterers' Hall in 1669, the second is Rowland Steward, who recorded his touch in 1694. This pewterer also made a small plate decorated in a similar manner. It is also in the V&A but is not on display in the British Galleries.
Flat-lidded tankards in silver are known from the late 1630s and pewter tankards of this form were made shortly afterwards.
Technique
The decoration on this tankard was created by a technique known as 'wrigglework'. In this, a zigzag line was made by pushing a narrow chisel across the surface of the metal, and moving it from side to side. Wrigglework was not carried out by trained engravers, but by journeymen working in the pewterers' workshops, almost certainly to cut costs.
Historical Associations
Towards the end of the 17th century royal portraits were used to decorate a wide variety of wares in Britain, including pewter. The portraits appear to have been copied from contemporary coins and medals. One group of these wares is a series of flat-lidded pewter tankards decorated with royal portraits done in 'wrigglework'. Thirteen have been recorded so far, eight by one particular maker, who seems to have specialised in their manufacture.
The Maker
The eight tankards are struck with the touch-mark RS. Two London pewterers have been suggested as the maker. The first is Robert Seare, who recorded his touch at Pewterers' Hall in 1669, the second is Rowland Steward, who recorded his touch in 1694. This pewterer also made a small plate decorated in a similar manner. It is also in the V&A but is not on display in the British Galleries.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Pewter, with wrigglework engraving |
| Brief description | Pewter tankard with engraved portraits of William and Mary on the body. English, ca. 1689-94. |
| Physical description | Pewter tankard with engraved portraits of William and Mary on the body. Hinged lid with elaborate thumb-piece. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Marked R.S. for Rowland Steward (registered his mark in 1694) or Robert Seare (registered his mark at Pewterers Hall in 1669) |
| Gallery label | British Galleries:
PEWTER TANKARD AND PLATE This maker used wrigglework - a technique that produced a zigzag line in the pewter - to create these simple portraits of William and Mary, probably copied from coins or medals. Wrigglework designs on pewter probably derive from those on contemporary English earthenware and textiles. The maker seems to have specialised in such commemorative wares as other pewter tankards with similar portraits and the same mark survive.(27/03/2003) |
| Credit line | Carvick Webster Gift |
| Object history | Made in England |
| Summary | Object Type Flat-lidded tankards in silver are known from the late 1630s and pewter tankards of this form were made shortly afterwards. Technique The decoration on this tankard was created by a technique known as 'wrigglework'. In this, a zigzag line was made by pushing a narrow chisel across the surface of the metal, and moving it from side to side. Wrigglework was not carried out by trained engravers, but by journeymen working in the pewterers' workshops, almost certainly to cut costs. Historical Associations Towards the end of the 17th century royal portraits were used to decorate a wide variety of wares in Britain, including pewter. The portraits appear to have been copied from contemporary coins and medals. One group of these wares is a series of flat-lidded pewter tankards decorated with royal portraits done in 'wrigglework'. Thirteen have been recorded so far, eight by one particular maker, who seems to have specialised in their manufacture. The Maker The eight tankards are struck with the touch-mark RS. Two London pewterers have been suggested as the maker. The first is Robert Seare, who recorded his touch at Pewterers' Hall in 1669, the second is Rowland Steward, who recorded his touch in 1694. This pewterer also made a small plate decorated in a similar manner. It is also in the V&A but is not on display in the British Galleries. |
| Bibliographic reference | McShane, Angela. 'Subjects and Objects: Material Expressions of Love and Loyalty in Seventeenth-Century England'. In: Journal of British Studies. Vol. 48, no. 4 (Oct., 2009), pp. 871-886. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.71-1938 |
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| Record created | March 11, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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