Objects
Tankard
Alcohol
Consumption
Weddings
[Taken from catalogue entry]
Cylindrical silver tankard, standing on a stepped rim foot. [Created by] Paul de Lamerie, born 1688 - died 1751.
The arms are those of Standish impaling Howard, for Ralph Standish of Standish, who married Lady Phillipa Howard, daughter of Henry, sixth Duke of Norfolk. The engraver has made a number of errors that have previously hindered identification of the coat of arms. The arms of Howard should be shown with six, not four, crosses crosslet in the first quarter. The arms of Standish should be blazoned 'Sable, three standing dishes' (although another branch of the family is 'azure', as shown here). Here, also, the charges appear to be pierced and have consequently been interpreted previously as annulets. Fortunately, a pair of salvers of 1734 by Robert Abercrombie (sold Sotheby's, June 20, 1974, lot 188) engraved with the same arms and the cipher 'RS' provide the evidence necessary to solve the mystery.
Historical significance: Only two other tankards by Paul de Lamerie appear to be recorded: an example of 1716 in the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, Williamstown (Carver and Casey, 1978, cat. no. 30), and another of 1744 in the James. B. Neale Collection at the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven (Houston, 1956, cat. no. 59). It is unclear why de Lamerie should have so neglected certain areas of the standard repertoire, such as tankards and teapots, since he certainly was not above producing other ordinary domestic plate. Despite the plainness of this tankard, the unusually heavy gauge of the metal, the subtle proportions, and the extravagant use of metal entailed in the casting of the handle and thumbpiece all single it out as the work of a craftsman of exceptional ability. (Schroder, 1988, pp. 189, 191)
[Marriage of Lady Phillipa Howard to Ralph Standish took place in 1702, 25 years before hallmark]
Creator
Paul De Lamerie
male
Silversmith
Production
Dates of Production: from 1727
to 1728
London, England
Consumer
Ralph Standish
male
English
Gentleman
Consumption
exact 1702
Standish, Lancashire, England
Materials
Metal- silver
Metal- plate
Museological Details
LOAN:GILBERT.650-2008
V&A museum
Tankard
This image is subject to copyright. The holding collection has given permission to reproduce this image on this website.