A George I provincial Britannia standard silver tankard, Exeter 1718 by John Elston I (died 1732-33)

Of gently tapering cylindrical form upon a moulded foot, the body with an applied girdle. The hollow double C scroll handle with a shaped shield shape terminal, leading to a stepped double domed lid raised by a moulded scroll openwork thumbpiece, the front of lid with shaped saw cut apron. Fully marked to the side of handle, the lid unmarked, the handle with makers mark only. Pricked with date 1719 above makers mark on handle. The underneath with various scratch weights and later stamped ‘Lambert 12 Coventry St London’.

Height – 17.7 cm / 6.95 inches

Weight – 663 grams / 21.32 ozt

For further information on John Elston I see Harrison, M., (2014), Exeter & West Country Silver,. Berforts Group, Hastings,. P.70-71.

George Lambert & Co is known to have supplied many ‘reproductions’ examples of silver from the William III – Queen Anne era in Britannia standard from the 1880’s, thus the retailing of old plate would figure alongside such articles quite successfully.