BEAKER WITH HANDLE London, 1688/89. Maker's mark, probably Thomas Smith.

Beaker with curved, shaped handle, the walls decorated all-around with birds, blossoms and putti. On a round foot ring.
H 10.5 cm, 225 g.

Provenance:
- Swiss private collection.

The beaker on offer belongs to a small group of objects that are similar with respect to their finishing technique and shape. Such beakers, of which a few have been preserved in the Ashmolean Museum of the University of Oxford, were made by different master craftsmen in the short period between 1687 and 1692. The engraving technique used is known as wrigglework, since the line is created by a zigzagging motion of the burin across the metal surface. This technique is more common in pewterwork (see the Collection of the Ashmolean Museum, for example, Inv. No. WA1947.13).
The shape is also unusual for a silver beaker. This type of vessel is found more often in earthenware objects, such as those made by John Dwight in London after 1673. Yixing ceramics were probably used as a model.