John Smith Sterling Silver

A magnificent, fine and impressive antique William III English Britannia standard silver flat topped quart tankard; an addition to our range of collectable 18th century silverware. This magnificent antique William III Britannia silver tankard has a plain tapering cylindrical form onto a spreading collet style foot. The surface of this 18th century quart tankard is embellished with an impressive engraved leaf and floral bordered coat of arms depicting party per pale to the first a chevron between three lion's heads erased and to the second a bend raguly. The upper and lower portions of the body are encircled with bands of tooled decoration, with an applied moulded border to the upper rim. This antique quart tankard retains the original double stepped flat topped, hallmarked cover surmounted with an impressive volute scrolling thumbpiece. The cover is further ornamented with a band of tooled decoration to the rim accented with an applied shaped thumbpiece to the anterior edge. The hinge is decorated with ribbed ornamentation and retains the original pin. This antique Britannia standard silver tankard is fitted with an S-scroll handle ornamented with a plain rounded terminal. The spreading collet foot is encircled with a band of applied moulded decoration to the rim. Imperial quart = 2 pints/1.14 litres. Britannia silver - The Britannia silver standard of 958 (95.84% of fine silver), denoted by the icon of the seated Britannia holding an oval shield, was introduced by William III in 1697. This was to indicate the slightly higher standard of silver from sterling silver standard of 925 (92.5% of fine silver). The armourial bearings are those of the Wyndham and Penruddocke family, to commemorate the marriage of Henry Wyndham and Arundel Penruddocke on 11th September 1735. Further detailed information available on request. Condition This antique tankard...