A rare English silver tankard from the late Stuart period, of traditional cylindrical form, fitted with a hinged cover, a substantial S-shaped handle and a shaped thumbpiece. The entire surface of the body is embellished with finely executed chased and engraved relief, forming a continuous panoramic composition depicting a military encampment with tents, standard-bearers, trumpeters, infantrymen and fallen soldiers on the battlefield. The battle scene unfolds around the circumference of the vessel as a unified narrative, enhancing the monumentality of the form and demonstrating the exceptional skill of the craftsman.
The cover is decorated with an allegorical arrangement of military trophies, including a drum, standards, pikes, halberds, artillery pieces and edged weapons. Executed against a matted ground, the ornament continues the subject of the body and forms a coherent iconographic programme. The interior retains traces of the original gilding.
The iconography is probably associated with the English historical military tradition and may refer to episodes from the Wars of the Roses, which culminated in the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 and the accession of the Tudor dynasty. The tankard belongs to a rare group of late seventeenth-century English silver distinguished by elaborate battle imagery, accomplished chasing and a unified artistic conception.
Marks: Maker’s mark «IJ», corresponding to John Jackson. London town mark of a crowned leopard’s head. Sterling silver standard mark of a lion passant. Date letter corresponding to 1698–1699. Further marks are present on the cover and structural elements.
Dimensions: Height 19.5 cm. Width including handle 22 cm. Diameter of base 14.5 cm.
Weight: Approximately 1,020 g.
Condition: In good collectible condition.
Provenance: Private collection.
English silver tankards of the late seventeenth century rank among the most recognisable works of British decorative art from the late Stuart period and the early reign of William III. Following the political upheavals of the seventeenth century, English silversmithing entered a period of remarkable prosperity. London workshops produced substantial drinking vessels for beer, ale and wine, intended both for aristocratic residences and for civic corporations, guilds and officers’ messes. Owing to the rigorous system of assay control, the work of London silversmiths was distinguished by consistently high standards of craftsmanship, while the combination of maker’s, town, standard and date marks allows such objects to be dated and localised with considerable precision.
John Jackson belonged to the generation of London silversmiths active at a time when English silver was gradually becoming a benchmark of quality throughout Europe. Surviving works from his workshop are encountered far less frequently than objects from the later Georgian period, making late seventeenth-century examples particularly desirable to museums and collectors of institutional calibre.
The elaborate historical programme of the chased and engraved decoration is of particular interest. Unlike the majority of English tankards of the period, which were more commonly ornamented with coats of arms, monograms or vegetal motifs, the present vessel is entirely covered with a continuous panorama of a military camp populated by standard-bearers, trumpeters, infantry, cavalry and fallen soldiers. The iconography is probably connected with the English historical tradition and may refer to events from the Wars of the Roses, which ended with the Battle of Bosworth in 1485. Henry Tudor’s victory over Richard III brought the prolonged dynastic conflict to a close and inaugurated the Tudor era, which was to shape the subsequent development of the English monarchy.
Of particular artistic importance is the combination of early Stuart silver with an exceptionally complex battle iconography extending across both the body and the cover. The military trophies on the cover continue the narrative composition and create a unified decorative cycle. Works of this type are considerably rarer than conventional English tankards of the late seventeenth century and are of significant interest for the study of historical iconography, silver craftsmanship and British drinking culture. English tankards of the Stuart period are today represented in the collections of the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the university museums of Oxford and Cambridge. Large examples weighing more than one kilogram and retaining their original marks, construction and highly accomplished chased decoration are regarded as rare objects on the international art market.
In good collectible condition. Minor traces of use, natural patination and localised wear are consistent with the age of the object. The relief remains well preserved and the marks are clearly legible. The cover hinge is in working order.
The condition report is provided for informational purposes only.
It is not comprehensive and may not reflect all defects, restorations, alterations, or adaptations, as Antiqon does not perform professional conservation-level assessments. The information is based on a qualified, yet subjective, evaluation by our specialists.Before purchasing, we recommend consultation with an independent expert.Please also consult our Terms and conditions and Glossary A-Z, which contain important information on lot characteristics and sale conditions.
