Ale quart dome lid pewter tankard made by Richard King of London 1714-57 his mark inside the base. The lid has a keeper ring, and a triad of ownership initials ‘M over ES’ under the dome. A solid chairback thumbpiece, and 3-part hinge with a brass pin. The C-curve handle has an oozy tongue and pip thumbrest, and with substantial hooded ball terminal. The tapered body with narrow cast low fillet, and simple reeded base. The domed lid also known more accurately as the double-domed lid came to dominance in the 18th century. The form first appeared c1685 evidenced by the John Smith of London's touchmark struck in 1685, which depicts a dome-lid tankard. Initially, dome-lid tankards had more pronounced domes, were taller, more slender, and often retained the projecting lid flange with pronounced denticulation seen on flat lids. They also tended to have a low fillet to the body unlike the flat lids. By the second decade of the 18th century the tankard body reverted to squatter and broader proportions. Thumbpieces initially followed those used on flat lids, and then new forms were introduced. These include the draped or cloaked solid chairback, followed later in the 18th century by the open chairback. Initially, the thumbpieces were solid, but soon decorative cut-outs were introduced, the most common being oval or heart shaped.Provenance: formerly in the collections of the late Mrs Clark Princeton NJ 1932, John F Ruckman Doylestown PA 1965, and 'Bud' Swain (Lot 11 Northeast Auctions 19.5.2007). In excellent condition inside and out. Capacity is an Ale quart = 40.1 fl oz. 7” tall and 5½” to rim, with mouth and base diameters of 4¼” & 5”. 975g weight. REF: P560
