Paul Revere II
American (Boston), 1735-1818

Created by famous patriot Paul Revere, this tankard for ale or beer was commissioned by Captain Joseph Goodwin, whose coat of arms appears on the side.  It is remarkable for its large size, heavy weight, and fine engraved decoration.  Revere, celebrated for his legendary “midnight” ride from Boston to Lexington at the beginning of the American Revolution, was one of the leading American silversmiths of his day. His silver generally reflected the current English fashion.  Here, he captures the curves and flourishes of the Rococo style, popular in the mid 1700s, with a complex double-scrolled handle and open thumbpiece.

Silver, 1769
Purchased with funds from Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Barber; Dr. and Mrs. Edward A. Kern; Mr. and Mrs. Stanley K. Levison; Mr. and Mrs. George P. MacNichol, Jr.; and the Florence Scott Libbey Bequest in Memory of her Father, Maurice A. Scott, 1988.43