A mid-19th century pewter ale mug or measure in the Georgain taste, and dating from 1840 to 1860.  The mug is a bulbous or pot-bellied tulip form, with a nice un-polished silver-grey colour, sitting on a flared foot and a double scroll handle with good thumb-rest.  Marked "PINT" on the belly, such capacity marks had become a legal requirement from 1836, although earlier mugs were often marked retrospectively.   There are also VR 6 and VR 33 crown marks representing a verification in Birmingham, Staffordshire and an indistinct 102 (?) for Lancashire.  Measures were often being verified several times during their lifetime, and frequestly travelled.

The mug which is 5 inches tall, also bears the "JAMES YATES" makers mark. There were three Yates, who were active as pewterers in Birmingham, John, Thomas and James. John Yates’s son James joined the business in 1837 and after the death of Spooner in
1839 John left and a new partnership of James Yates and Thomas Rawlins Birch was formed (Yates & Birch). The latter died in 1857 and in 1860 the Birch interest lapsed and the business known as ‘James Yates’ was created. James Yates died in 1881 when the business was sold to Fredrick and Herbert Greenaway although it continued to trade as James Yates until effectively the business was merged with that of Gaskell and Chambers in 1902. After the split with James Yates the Birches formed a partnership with Samuel Mason.

John Yates’s son James joined the business in 1837 and after the death of one Spooner in 1839 John left and a new partnership of James Yates and Thomas Rawlins Birch was formed (Yates & Birch). The latter died in 1857 and in 1860 the Birch interest lapsed
and the business known as ‘James Yates’ was created. James Yates died in 1881 when the business was sold to Fredrick and Herbert Greenaway although it continued to trade as James Yates until effectively the business was merged with that of Gaskell
and Chambers in 1902

So, once you've impressed your fellow drinkers with that lot, you can claim also to be helping the planet.  For this is a eco-friendly, sustainable mug, providing the user with enhanced operational efficiencies and enviro-cred's that accompany the recycled usable piece of history.  

Incorrectly called a tankard, which as you know is a mug with a lid, this copious purveyor of joy will both delight the casual imbiber, and nurture performance in the serious responsible quaffer.