2 Colonial Beer Tankards, Mugs, cup, approx 17 oz each

2 Colonial Beer Tankards, Mugs, cup, approx 17 oz each

$25.00


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The tankards are a rough copy of some of the artifacts unearthed at the site of the Three Cranes Tavern in Charlestown, MA, which was burned down at the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. I made these on a consignment but Covid put an end to that. The consignee's business was closed for covid. These are almost sold out. I wish the original consignee was around. I'd make him a dozen! I think I'll make more of them, anyway.

The original tankards, which are in the attached pictures, were larger, called schooners at the Bell In Hand in Boston. They were larger because the drinkers handed them around, along with the clay pipes for communal use. Not usual today.

These tankards are made from stoneware clay since it is much less porous than the original earthenware. This makes them sanitary and more easily cleaned. It also makes them more durable. The early potters must have had a good business making replacements for broken earthenware. Notice the broken pots in the record picture of the archaeological dig.

The clay used is a buff stoneware. The inside is glazed with a dark clay gloss glaze. The outside is coated in a red earthenware slip which, at stoneware temperatures, is sintered to a rough matt, reddish brown, somewhat similar to the 18th-century artifacts. The white trim is a copy of other colonial tankards of the 18th century. Each tankard tries to be distinctive so the owner can recognize his tankard at the local tavern where they hung on a peg board. I think the colonials used crayons to mark the tankards.

The tankards each hold about 17 oz, a pint plus, and measure approximately, 5 inches tall and 3-3/4 inches diameter. Each tankard weighs without packing 17 ozs. Cheers!

Email or Etsy message me on your choice of tankard. I'll cross out the ones sold. AND if you order 2, I'll pack them together so shipping will be less. I'll refund the difference.

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