Sterling silver Mugs & Tankards
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Half pint mug Reed – London 1929
SOLDSilver reeded half pint mug, London 1929 — now sold.SOLD -
Half pint mug simple – Birmingham 1934
SOLDSilver plain half pint mug, Birmingham 1934 — now sold.SOLD -
Pint mug – Exeter 1871
SOLDVictorian silver pint mug by Williams, Exeter 1871 — now sold.SOLD -
Pint mug smooth – London 1943
SOLDSilver smooth pint mug, London 1943 — now sold.SOLD -
Half pint mug – Sheffield 1906
SOLDEdwardian silver half pint mug, Sheffield 1906 — now sold.SOLD -
Half pint mug – Sheffield 1928
SOLDSilver half pint mug, Sheffield 1928 — now sold.SOLD -
Child’s mug modern – Edinburgh 2019
SOLDA magnificent 21st Century Sterling Silver Child's mug modern, authenticated in Edinburgh…SOLD -
Mug – London 1965
SOLDSilver mug, London 1965 — now sold.SOLD -
Plain mug – London 1971
SOLDSilver plain mug, London 1971 — now sold.SOLD -
Pint mug – Chester 1928
SOLDSilver pint mug, Chester 1928 — now sold.SOLD -
Tiny Reed Child’s mug – London 1801
SOLDGeorgian silver reeded child's mug, London 1801 — now sold.SOLD -
Half pint mug – Birmingham 1920
SOLDSilver half pint mug, Birmingham 1920 — now sold.SOLD
Sterling silver Mugs & Tankards
At a Glance
- Vintage pint mugs typically run £600-£1,400, depending on age, maker, and condition
- Two main shapes: straight-sided or baluster; a lidded version is technically a tankard
- Check the rim gauge for comfort, and wall thickness before engraving
- Pre-1800 examples are seamless — one piece, no side seam
- A traditional christening gift, usually a half-pint or third-pint child’s cup
- Genuinely usable today, not just for display — sherry, champagne, everyday drinks
Style & Maker History
Surviving mugs and tankards are mostly Victorian or later — genuine 18th-century examples are rare, and where they survive, seamless one-piece construction is one of the clearest signs of the period. Style follows the period closely: early 19th-century pieces tend to be plain, with straight sides and simple reeded or engraved decoration; Victorian examples are often more heavily worked, hand-chased with floral or figurative scenes and finished with a beaded rim; by the early 20th century, styles often returned to plainer Georgian tankard shapes, sometimes with applied strapwork. Silversmiths associated with mugs and tankards historically include the Barnard family workshop, Mappin, and George Unite of Birmingham.
Buyer's Guide
Shape is the main thing to know before buying. Mugs come in two main forms — straight-sided, or the curvier baluster shape — while a lidded version is technically a tankard rather than a mug, generally larger, and one of the clearer signs of an important piece in a Georgian household. You'll also find variations like glass-bottomed mugs. A child's cup is usually the smallest of the group, typically half a pint.
A few practical things worth checking before buying: the gauge of the rim, for comfort in actual use; whether the area you'd want engraved is thick enough to take it safely; and, for anything claiming to be pre-1800, that the body is genuinely seamless — one-piece construction with no side seam is one of the clearer signs of an early piece. Style generally follows the period, the same as most antique silver. As a rough guide, vintage pint mugs typically run from around £600 to £1,400, though this varies with age, maker, and condition.
What is an Antique?
Any item which is guaranteed to be over 100 years old.
What is hallmarked Sterling Silver?
Sterling Silver is guaranteed by the UK Hallmarking Act. Each piece is independently verified and assayed for the purity of silver content.
Can I view these items in person?
Yes, all of the items shown on our website are available to view at our showroom in The London Silver Vaults.
How do I clean and maintain my silver?
Looking after your silverware is a simple process. We have put together a guide at https://johnsurtees.co.uk/knowledge/how-to-clean-silver-care-guide/