Tankard with a raised stepped-and-domed lid topped by a cast spiral finial and straight tapered sides with applied moldings around rim, midbody and base. Front of body engraved on upper half with an armorial device or coat of arms featuring an escutcheon with lion rampant charge and dotted field, the crest of a seated lion with right forepaw raised, and the motto "TOUT JOUR FIDELLE"; lower half has "GPH" in foliate script. Cast S-curve, grooved scroll thumbpiece attaches to five-knuckle hinge with pendant drop. Hollow, D-section, S-curve handle has a domed oval terminal with oval attachment. Struck twice on rim exterior, once to left and to right of handle, "BENJAMIN / BURT" in raised slanted serif letters in a curvilinear surround. Weight incised on bottom underside above centerpoint "oz / 28 = 13".
Maker is Benjamin Burt (1729-1805) of Boston, MA; son of John Burt (1692/3-1746) and brother to Samuel (1724-1754) and William (1726-1751), all silversmiths.
Our collection database is a work in progress. We may update this record based on further research and review. Learn more about our approach to sharing our collection online.
If you would like to know how you can use content on this page, see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use. If you need to request an image for publication or other use, please visit Rights and Reproductions.