Jeremiah Dummer
American, 1645­1718
Tankard
1696­1705
Silver
ht. (incl. thumbpiece): 15.6 cm; base diam.: 11.8 cm
Gift of the Antiquarian Society through Mr. and Mrs. William Y. Hutchinson Fund, 1985.780

This lidded tankard is a one-handled metal drinking container to hold cider or beer. The creator of the tankard, Jeremiah Dummer, is the first American-born silversmith, and silversmithing was one of the first fine arts to be established in the American colonies. Objects of silver were luxury items and usually were made from melted-down coins provided by the buyer.