Large Mid-18th-Century Scandinavian Antique Treen Peg Tankard / Birch Wood Tankard

A very decorative late 18th-century Scandinavian antique treen tankard constructed from birch.

Most probably originating from Norway.

Decorated in Norse style, with a lid decorated with a carved beast and surrounded by scratched and chip-carved detail; the hinge decorated with a further wild beast carved in the round with a floral motif radiating out from the central hinge pin and decorative handle. The main body pole-lathe turned from a single piece of birch supported on three decoratively carved feet in the form of wild beasts.

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. 

Condition – as per the images. The rim of the lid has losses. The body has a minor hairline split in part at the back, where the upper part of the handle is secured to the body; however, this is stable. A further detailed condition report is available upon request.

Size: Max Width/Diameter to handle 14.5 cm x Max Height to top of lion carved hinge 21.5 cm (5 3/4″ x 8 1/2″)