Beaker, drinking vessel

Beaker of half pint capacity used at the Mount Street workhouse in Mayfair, Westminster. Built in 1725 the workhouse was enlarged in the 1780s and finally demolished in 1886 due to overcrowding. Beer would have been the standard drink provided to workhouse inmates in the early 19th century.

The beaker has a turned rim, pronounded fillets around the body and a turned spreading pedestal foot. The body is engraved ‘Mount St Workhouse’. There is a circular touch inside the base and just below the rim on the outside are three flower hallmarks representing the makers Gerardin & Watson, London. Below the hallmarks is a '½ PINT' stamp.

Francis Gerardin, a pewterer trading on his own between 1805 and 1823, joined forces with Watson in 1824. When Sir George Alderson died in 1826, they appear to have taken over his contract with Mount Street Workshop. Francis Geradin worked from 21 Poland Street, Westminster, but in 1854 the partnership moved to 43 Poland Street.