The Amber Tankard

In her will, written in 1727, Dame Lydia Mews directed that her amber tankard should be given to All Souls' College, Oxford, to be kept forever in memory of her husband, Sir Peter Mews, who had been educated there.

After Dame Lydia's death, a codicil to her will was discovered, and its authenticity disputed. It directed that the tankard should stand on the altar of the church at North Mimms, Hertfordshire, where Dame Lydia and her father were buried. The tankard went to North Mimms, and is now on loan to the British Museum where it is pictured above. It is treasured as a particularly fine example of silver and amber craftsmanship, and identified as probably of German origin.