The best material for the body of a tankard was considered to be juniper, in the absence of which spruce was preferred. The lid and the handle were always carved of birch. The hoops were preferably made of bird cherry tree and alder buckthorn.
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In the collections of the Estonian
National Museum there are about 3000 tankards,
the overwhelming majority of which go back to the 19th, a few also to the
middle of the 18th century. The oldest date marked on a tankard is 1728.
All the tankards dating from the 18th century are small, with flat lids
and simple handles.
The best material for the body of a tankard was considered to be juniper, in the absence of which spruce was preferred. The lid and the handle were always carved of birch. The hoops were preferably made of bird cherry tree and alder buckthorn. |
The oldest technique for the ornamentation of tankards was carving. The lid and the handle were decorated with carved patterns. However, the widest-spread technique was branding. Special branding irons were used for the purpose. In West Estonia and on islands also intarsia was used: motifs made of dark oak were applied to the side of a tankard made of juniper or spruce boards.
Among the tankards in the Museum's collection none is exactly like another. Still, certain common regional features are noticeable. In general, the tankards collected from West Estonia and islands are more richly decorated than those made in South and East Estonia, which are relatively modestly ornamented.
| In Saaremaa island, where tankards used to play a particular role in different ceremonies, they were made with special care. Among the tankards coming from different parishes, those made in Mustjala are especially remarkable. Their branded lozenge pattern is very similar to the patterns of the mittens and stockings knitted in the parish. Especially characteristic is the big wheel carved under the handle. Tankards made in Central Saaremaa are characterised by spruce motifs, those made in Kihelkonna parish by leaf and bird motifs. The characteristic feature of the tankards made in the Sõrve peninsula is the intarsia technique, especially the fishtail pattern. |  |
The characteristic feature of Hiiumaa Island is striped and mottle tankards in the intarsia technique, conspicuous for their slender silhouette, flat lid and modest ornament.
The beautiful tankards made in Läänemaa county have handles with a carved horse's head, often complemented by wheel, symbolising the bride's wedding ride.
On tankards made in North Estonia we find besides the usual geometrical composition also floral patterns, which somewhat resemble the embroideries on women's blouse-like garments and headdresses.
The surface of the tankards made in Central Estonia, especially in Viljandi county, is decorated with heart-shaped patterns. These tankards have a broad body and a simple handle.
In Tartu and Võru counties in East Estonia tankards have modest ornamentation.
Double and treble tankards also played a part in wedding ceremonies. Usually such tankards were connected through a hidden channel so that beer could flow from one vessel into the other, which caused much fun, requiring great skill of the drinkers.