William Homes Whistling Tankard, ca. 1740
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GUEST:
It was given to my fifth great-grandfather in 1745, Captain Thomas Perkins, for something that he did at the Battle of Louisbourg at, in Cape Breton.
APPRAISER:
And what about the maker? Do you know anything about who made it?
GUEST:
We were told it was made by-- and I can't remember his name-- but the, the teacher of Paul Revere. That's in the family history, but I don't know whether that's true or not.
APPRAISER:
Okay. The maker actually has nothing to do with Paul Revere, but it does have something to do with another important American Federalist. This was made by a silversmith in Boston, a very important silversmith, by the name of William Holmes. William Holmes was the nephew of Benjamin Franklin, and he was born...
GUEST:
Seriously?
APPRAISER:
Mm-hmm-- he was born in Benjamin Franklin's father's house, who was his grandfather, when Benjamin Franklin was only ten years old. Is there anything special about the tankard that you know of?
GUEST:
It's called a whistling tankard. I understand a whistling tankard is where, uh, they'd sit in the pub, and they'd... When it was empty, they'd whistle, and the guy would come and fill it up.
APPRAISER:
The whistling part of the tankard is right here.
GUEST:
Uh-huh.
APPRAISER:
There's a hole for the air to come out, but somewhere there should be a hole for the air to go in. But during a repair at some point...
GUEST:
Oh...
APPRAISER:
...that has been lost. Whistling tankards are quite rare.
GUEST:
Really?
APPRAISER:
And especially in American silver.
GUEST:
(chuckles)
APPRAISER:
I think for an insurance valuation, I would put it somewhere between $15,000 and $25,000.
GUEST:
(laughing) Seriously? Bless his little heart. Really neat. That is great information. (laughs) Thank you so much.
APPRAISER:
Well, it's-- sure.
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