Tankard

The vast majority of Georgian-era Channel Islands silver baluster mugs are of a pint or half-pint capacity.

Although originally trained as a goldsmith, Dirck Van Rijswijck (1596-1679) developed his own characteristic style using less rarefied material.

The name ‘peg tankard’ is derived from the vertical row of pegs inside that can be used to measure the amount of alcohol drunk as the tankard was passed around the table. The form, made in wood and in silver, was particularly prevalent in Scandinavia.

This 12in (30cm) high gilt-copper electrotype tankard by Elkington of Birmingham copies an 17th century ivory tankard with silver mounts.

Since the days of Magna Carta, it was thought the best way to avoid a fraudulent measure was to have a verified ‘standard’ against which all others could be judged.

Size, quality and sheer Irishness made the tankard shown here the toast of the silver sold at Ipswich auction house Lockdales (19.5% buyer’s premium).

A very rare form of German 17th century silver is on offer at Van Ham’s auction on November 16 in Cologne.

Abraham Barachin became the last silversmith to use the Hull town mark of three ducal coronets.

This cloisonné and plique à jour enamel silver presentation tankard will be one of the highlights of the Gilded Age auction at Freeman’s in Philadelphia on February 24.

Estimated at £400-600, this 7in (17cm) high Chinese export silver dragon handled tankard sold for a much higher sum.

A group of Ethiopian works of art believed to have been taken during the Battle of Maqdala in 1868 has been withdrawn from a Dorset auction after the Embassy of Ethiopia intervened.

The name ‘peg tankard’ comes from the vertical row of pegs inside that can be used to measure the amount of alcohol drunk as it was passed around a table.

A tankard said to be made from the hide of Oliver Cromwell’s warhorse was the toast of an auction in Dorchester.

Despite – or because of – the imminent prohibition, good-quality antique ivory works of art continue to bring solid prices at auction.

Bonhams Australia is holding its first auction behind closed doors in Sydney on May 13 with bidding online and by phone.