George III Sterling Silver Baluster Mug London 1766

Description

Heading : George III small silver baluster mug London 1766
Date : Hallmarked in 1766 For F.M
Period : George III
Origin : London England
Decoration : Baluster body. spread foot and double c scroll handle. Engraved BMP on the base
Size :  Height 9.5cm. base diameter 6.6cm
Condition :
Restoration : None
Weight :  169 grams (5.43 troy)

A dainty small Georgian baluster mug which holds three eighths of a pint. a half a gill of overproof rum and a gill of water was exactly the rum ration for ratings in the Royal Navy.

It was the Victorians who first started to produce tankards as Christening gifts. items with a high intrinsic value. Prior to that apostle spoons were more commonly given as gifts upon the arrival of a newborn. Frankincense and myrrh may ‘grow on trees”. but not at these latitudes. It would be reasonable to expect that Christening gifts would be engraved with a date and name perhaps.

Some small Georgian silver mugs were later engraved but very few have contemporary engraving. We doubt that most small 18th century mugs were ever intended for anything other than drinking. but they do make ideal christening gifts despite the withdrawl of the rum ration.

Note: The maker’s mark F.M. is listed as “unidentified” by Grimwade. It may have been recorded in the missing 1739-1758 Smallworkers’ Register or the 1758-1773 Largeworkers’ Register.