Large Mid-18th-Century Norwegian Antique Treen / Birchwood Peg Tankard

A mid-18th-Century Norwegian birchwood “peg tankard”.

With a domed, hinged lid, carved in relief. The large scrolled handle is topped with a decorative thumb piece. With the addition of a copper band to the main body. Supported on three decorative feet.

Peg tankards receive their name from the pegs that are fixed to the interior of the body at regular intervals. This tankard has regular pegs and such a tankard would have been filled with ale, cider or wine and then passed from person-to–person during a feast. Each guest would  consume enough liquid until the next “peg” appeared. 

Edward H. Pinto comments that ‘wooden tankards were the commonest drinking vessels of North-west Europe over many centuries’. He describes the way in which they were manufactured: ‘They were made in three parts-the turned tankard or cup, the handle pegged on, which includes half the wood hinge, and the lid, which incorporates the ornamental thumb lift and the other half of the hinge’ ‘Treen and Other Wooden Bygones’ (Bell & Hyman Ltd., London, 1979), pp.57-58. He illustrates a number of such drinking vessels in plate 45. 

Provenance – 18thC, Norway.

Condition – The main body has had a crack at the back with the handle joins the carcass. This has been repaired and is stable. Please refer to the images. A further detailed condition report is available upon request.

Size – Height 19 cm x Diameter (including handle) 19 cm (7 1/2″ x 7 1/2″