American Silver Tankard

Object Details

Object Essay

The tankard was one of the first forms in which regional preferences or characteristics were expressed. Boston 18th-century tankards are tall and have domed covers with finials; dolphin-and-mask thumbpieces are typical of examples made between 1710 and 1725. In the pre-Revolutionary period, New York tankards retained relatively low, squat proportions with deeply overhanging flat covers and cocoon-shaped thumbpieces.^{1_{The characteristic thumbpiece has led to speculation that one silversmith supplied castings to his colleagues. See Montgomery, “Regional Preferences,” 55–56.}} New York tankards are also known for the use of elaborate cast and applied ornaments on their handles and applied stamped foliate bands above their base moldings.^{2_{For chronological sequences of New York and Boston tankards, see Ward and Ward 1979, 124–27.}}

This handsome tankard exemplifies both the Philadelphia type of tankard and Joseph Richardson’s own work. In fact, it is remarkably like one made about 1725 for William Branson by Joseph’s father, Francis Richardson. Both share similar, slightly tapering bodies, low molded bands, vigorously curved handles with plain, shield-shaped terminal plates, scrolled thumbpieces, and stepped, domed covers with serrated front flanges.^{3_{Fales Joseph Richardson and Family, fig. 7.}}

Although the provenance of the Joseph Richardson tankard is lost, the initials on it, “B/W*I,” suggest that it may have been made for the same family or individual that owned the tankard made by Francis Richardson, which is engraved “WB.” If so, then their resemblance may have been intentional. Most other tankards by Joseph Richardson do not have a midband, as this one does. Joseph is known to have made eight other tankards of this three-pint size between about 1735 and 1750.^{4_{Ibid., 87–90, 114.}}

Joseph Richardson and his brother, Frank (1705–1782), were trained by their father, Francis Richardson (1681–1729), who began working in Philadelphia in late 1704 or 1705. Although Joseph had not completed his apprenticeship at the time of his father’s death in 1729, he nevertheless inherited the shop and tools and immediately went into business for himself. Frank worked with Joseph from time to time, but devoted most of his energy to mercantile pursuits. Joseph operated the shop until his retirement in 1777, when he passed the business on to his sons, Joseph, Jr. (1752–1831), and Nathaniel (1754–1827). As one of the most important Philadelphia silversmiths of his day, Joseph imported quantities of silver from England. He also employed a number of specialist craftsmen and had dealings with other silversmiths in the community. In addition to being a leader of his Quaker meeting, Joseph was also active in such institutions as the Library Company of Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Hospital, and the Philadelphia Contributionship, a fire insurance company.^{5_{Ibid., 5, 33–47.}}

Jennifer F. Goldsborough and Barbara McLean Ward

Excerpted from Clement E. Conger, et al. Treasures of State: Fine and Decorative Arts in the Diplomatic Reception Rooms of the U.S. Department of State. New York: H.N. Abrams, 1991.