Colonial Williamsburg acquires rare Paul Revere tankard

[Sherman A1]

The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation has acquired a rare silver tankard made by Paul Revere, colonial America’s premier silversmith and the Revolution’s premier midnight righter. There are only about three dozen known Revere tankards. The tapering sides, midband, domed line and pinecone finial dates this one to around 1795, but researchers are still looking through Revere’s many extant record books to trace it directly back to its origins.

The silver tankard was sold at auction in May of this year for $112,500, including buyer’s premium. The Friends of Colonial Williamsburg Collections Fund provided the wherewithal to add this exceptional piece, one of the largest forms produced by Revere’s silver shop, to the Colonial Williamsburg museum holdings.

http://www.thehistoryblog.com/archives/62035

[underpants]

1. Was Paul Revere ever IN Williamsburg?

Grew up right down 64/the parkway from there.

BTW - CW has an exemption from paying minimum wage.

[appalachiablue]

3. The tankard is representative of objects made or used

in early, colonial America. Whether Revere was ever in Wmsbg. is irrelvant, some of his works could have certainly made their way to Virginia, along with furniture, chinaware, textiles, tools, books and articles from from regions other than Virginia.

Some portait painters and craftsmen traveled to colonial and early American markets to sell their wares. Goods from England and France also made their way to America. It's known from personal records that George Washington ordered cloth, shoes and other household items from England.

Museums and historic properties often have acquisition and collection policies which include adding objects and artifacts that reflect their interpretive period or are in line with their mission statement. For example, items belonging to an alumni of the College of William and Mary, materials related to a speech given in Willamsburg by FDR or Gerald Ford's 1976 presidential debate with Jimmy Carter at Phi Beta Kappa Hall which I attended could be added to collections. It depends on an institution's guidelines.

-From the article:

"The tankard will now join the other recently-acquired example of Revere silver — a small porriger made around 1765 — in the new exhibition of Colonial Williamsburg’s permanent silver collection at the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum.

“Colonial Williamsburg has long sought a significant example of Revere’s work,” said Ronald L. Hurst, the Foundation’s Carlisle H. Humelsine chief curator and vice president for museums, preservation and historic resources. “With its impressive size, fine detail, and excellent condition, this tankard fills a significant void in our American silver holdings.”

[abqtommy]

2. I'll drink to that! nt

[mopinko]

4. midnight righter?

sorry to be that person.