A George III silver-gilt tankard, Story & Elliott, London, 1812

A number of tankards in this design have been noted, hallmarked between 1812 and 1816 and with the marks of Joseph Story & William Elliott or William Elliott alone after the partnership was dissolved. It seems likely that the design was copied from a 17th century German ivory tankard.

One example was sold in the 1827 sale of the Duke of York's collection (19-22 March 1827, fourth day's sale, lot 28), described as 'A massive tankard, surrounded by figures of young baccants, enjoying the results of the vintage, executed in high relief, of gold matt, a corresponding relief on the lid, the mouldings burnished'.

Thomas John Wynn, 2nd Baron Newborough (1802 – 1832) was the son of Thomas Wynn, 1st Baron Newborough and Maria Stella Wynn, née Petronella, who had attracted his attention during her career as a dancer in a Florentine theatre. Their first son Thomas John Wynn (1802-1832) was just five when his father died, and he was raised by his mother and three guardians. On coming of age and succeeding to the barony in 1823 he invested in a vast silver dinner service bought from the retailers Green, Ward, Green & Ward for whom Benjamin Smith was working at this date. The majority of the service was sold at Sotheby's, London, 27 February 1992, lots 123-225.