An American silver tankard, Jacob Hurd, Boston circa 1750

tapered cylindrical with molded baseband, rim and girdle, stepped domed cover, pineapple finial, scroll thumbpiece, scroll handle springing from wide drop and applied with a baluster, engraved with contemporary initials C over NE, a tulip between, over 1770, convex oval terminal, the front engraved NEC script in circular cartouche, marked small Hurd in rectangle (Kane mark D) right of handle and cover near thumbpiece, the base with scratch weight 32oz-//-0.

French 1939, no. 253, p. 46 (as belonging to Jeffords)
Kane 1998 p. 609

French gives the initials as being those of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Curtis, married in 1738.

Jacob Hurd (1702/03-1758) was one of the most talented and prolific silversmiths of his generation.  More than 500 works from his shop survive, accounting for over 50% of the surviving silver from his period, and his clientele was drawn from the highest levels of Boston society.  However, he never diversified like many of his peers, restricting himself to the silversmithing business, and eventually was ruined by rising inflation.  He went bankrupt in 1755 and moved from Boston to Roxbury; his estate was valued at £72.13, while his debts amounted to more than £700.