Beaker
1825–50
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Overall: H. 3 7/16 in. (8.7 cm); 3 oz. 10 dwt. (108.4 g) Lip: Diam. 2 13/16 in. (7.1 cm) Base: Diam. 2 1/4 in. (5.7 cm)
Classification
Beaker
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Bequest of Alphonso T. Clearwater, 1933
Accession Number
33.120.110
Art Historical Context
Nestled in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this elegant silver beaker by John Goodhue exemplifies early 19th-century American. Crafted between 1825 and 1850, the piece measures a dainty 3 7/16 inches (8.7 cm) in height, with a lip diameter of 2 /16 inches (7.1 cm) and a base of 2 1/4 inches (5.7 cm), weighing in at 3 ounces 10 pennyweight (108.4 g). Its compact form suggests it was designed for personal use, likely as a drinking vessel for toddy, ale, or punch—common in American households of the era. Silver beakers like this one highlight the skill of regional silversmit...