A mid -to late 18th century ceremonial burr birch peg-tankar...

Hammer

£440

A mid -to late 18th century ceremonial burr birch peg-tankard, Norwegian, circa 1750-1800

The well-figured drum with moulded lip and footrim, the domed lid carved with a stylized lion amongst foliage, the bold and floral-carved handle with a recumbent lion thumbpiece and flowerhead carved hinge lug, on three shallow lion-carved supports, underside stamped with the initials ‘PTS’,  height 23cm, overall width 21.5cm, lid diameter 15.3cm

This type of tankard was traditionally communally used at weddings and other family celebrations. The term ‘peg’ refers to marks historically placed inside the drum to indicate a volume of drink to be consumed by an individual as the tankard was passed around.  For a comparable example see the Victoria & Albert Museum collection, London, acc. no. 577-1891