Leopard Antiques Charles II Silver Flat Lidded Tankard - Oxford University, Magdalen College

Charles II Silver Flat Lidded Tankard - Oxford University, Magdalen College	Order Form Request more information

Reference: S11210 Period: Charles II Year: 1668 Silversmith: RS between mullets Place: London Price: $ 5 150.00 Weight: 487 grams Dimensions: 13 cm height, 9 cm diameter Condition: Fair, with old repairs, this tankard has been well used and seen some life. Old repairs to thumbpiece, hinge (brass pin and resoldered to handle), lower handle reattached, small dents to lid and tankard. Hinge slightly loose. Description: A rare Carolean silver flat lidded tankard, made in London in 1668, which was part of Oxford's University Magdalen College silver plate. The tankard is the traditional shape of the period, tapering cylindrical with reeded borders, the flat lid with single step and single peak (lip). The flat hinge and hinge plates are cast, designed to withstand wear and tear. The thumbpiece is a double cusp. The massive scroll handle has underside curved into a half round, with hole, these handles were made in two pieces (myth has it that the hole was a whistle to call for more beer!, Waldron, Price Guide to Antique Silver, item 620, page 196). The tankard has been later engraved with the Magdalen College armorial, it reads "Magd: Coll: Athletic Sports, March 1861", and the lid is engraved with a wheatsheaf between wings armorial, the engraving is excellent quality and is beautifully preserved. The tankard has a full set of hallmarks on lid and base, Leopards head crowned and lion passant in irregular punch, date letter L for 1668, and makers mark RS between two mullets (Jackson page 128, 1668). Both makers marks are partially worn (struck on curved surface), but one clearly shows the R, and the other clearly shows the S, likewise the date letters have some wear, but enough is present to positively confirm 1668. An almost identical tankard, made by the same maker RS between 2 mullets in 1661, is in the collection of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths, the engraving shows it was made from silver from the canopy of King Charles II coronation, so RS was clearly a leading goldsmith. This tankard is pictured and described in the book "The Plate of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths by Carrington and Hughes, 1926", page 69, plates 37 and 38. Another similar tankard, also by the same maker and dated 1671, appears in an advert of the dealer Louis Wine Ltd of Dublin, early 20th century. Another very similar tankard, by FS IN 1670, is depicted in the book "Caroline Silver" by Charles Oman, plate 29B. Likewise a tankard made in 1684 by OS, now in the collection of Her Majesty the Queen, see page 59 in the Connoisseur book entitled "The Queen's silver" by Grimwade. Magdalen College is one of the most prestigious of Oxford's colleges, it was founded in 1458 by the Bishop of Winchester. It was solidly Royalist during the English Civil War of the 1640's, most of the College silver was melted down to fund the war effort. Magdalen has produced 9 nobel prize winners, alumni include Cardinal Wolsey, Oscar Wilde, King Edward VIII and past Prime Ministers of Australia and Canada. The Magdalen College Armorial, beautifully engraved on this tankard, is blazoned " Lozengy ermine and sable, on a chief of the last three lilies close couped argent". Please note condition of tankard, it shows signs of having been well used, and a number of old repairs are present. We know tankards were used for beer, and we also know the university colleges used their silver, it was not kept locked away. Waldron states "tankards from this period are not often discovered in a good condition".


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Charles II Silver Flat Lidded Tankard - Oxford University, Magdalen College


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Carolean sterling silver lidded tankard - Magdalen College


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Magdalen College, Oxford, Athletic Sports Silver trophy March 1861


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Charles II Silver Flat Lidded Tankard


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Charles II Silver Flat Lidded Tankard top


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Carolean sterling silver lidded tankard - Magdalen College, open


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Charles II Silver Flat Lidded Tankard base


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17th century silver tankard handle with hinge and thumbpiece


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Wheatsheaf with wings engraved crest on silver tankard


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RS between mullets London 1668 silver hallmarks


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17th century sterling silver tankard scale

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