Lord Burghley's Tankard
- Gallery: Room 46
- Maker: Jacopo Verzelini
- Made in: London (England) (Broad Street)
- Date: 1575 (circa)
- Object type: tankard
- Materials: glass; silver; gold; enamel
- Museum number: AF.3134
- Museum: The British Museum
- Collection record: British Museum website
- Image © The Trustees of the British Museum, shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 licence.
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About this object
Before you stands "Lord Burghley's Tankard," a striking example of late 16th-century English silver craftsmanship. The tankard is a clear glass tube mounted in gilded silver, carefully embossed and chased with fine details.
Look closely at the lid: it features three whimsical masks resting on wing-like shapes, with fruit swags and birds in between. At the center is a circular medallion displaying the arms of Lord Burghley, richly enamelled on a crimson background within a Garter. The thumb piece shows Burghley’s crest on the inside and a bouquet of flowers on the outside.
The ogee-shaped handle is engraved with swirling patterns and a figure of Justice. The tankard’s foot is supported by three elegantly carved feet, and a lily is engraved beneath.
This piece is a remarkable blend of artistry and symbolism, reflecting the power and prestige of William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley. Crafted around 1575 in London, its glass may mark an early attempt at crystal production in England.
See it in person
Lord Burghley's Tankard is on display in Room 46 at the British Museum on Great Russell Street, Bloomsbury, London — free to enter. Choose British Museum on audioguide.london and take a photo of it to hear this free audio guide in six languages — no app download needed.
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