Pewter

Pewter plate

Pewter vase

Pewter is a malleable metal alloy, traditionally between 85 and 99 percent tin, with the remainder consisting of copper, antimony, bismuth and lead. Copper and antimony act as hardeners while lead is common in the lower grades of pewter, which have a bluish tint. It has a low melting point, around 170–230 °C (about oven temperature), depending on the exact mixture of metals. The word pewter is probably a variation of the word spelter, a colloquial name for zinc.

History

Pewter was first used around the beginning of the Bronze Age in the Near East. The earliest piece of pewter found is from an Egyptian tomb from 1450 BC.

Types

The constituents of pewter were first controlled in the 12th century by town guilds in France. By the 15th century, the Worshipful Company of Pewterers controlled pewter constituents in England. This company originally had two grades of pewter, but, in the 16th century, a third grade was added. The first type, known as fine metal, was used for flatware. It consisted of tin with as much copper as it could absorb, which is about 1%. The second type, known as trifling metal or trifle, was used for holloware. It is made up of fine metal with approximately 4% lead. The last type of pewter, known as lay or ley metal, was used for items that weren't in contact with food or drink. It consisted of tin with 15% lead. These three alloys were used, with little variation, until the 20th century.

Modern pewters must contain at least 90% tin and be alloyed with copper, antimony, or bismuth to be considered a pewter. Lead is no longer permitted to be an alloying element. Older pewters with higher lead content are heavier, tarnish faster, and oxidation gives them a darker silver-grey color.

A typical European casting alloy would contain 94% tin, 1% copper, and 5% antimony. A European pewter sheet would contain 92% tin, 2% copper, and 6% antimony. Asian pewter, produced mostly in Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand, contains a higher percentage of tin, usually 97.5% tin, 1% copper, and 1.5% antimony. This makes the alloy slightly softer.

Uses

Pewter items are often found in churches. Use of pewter was common from the Middle Ages up until the various developments in glass-making during the 18th and 19th centuries. Pewter was the chief tableware until the making of porcelain. Contrary to urban legend, the use of lead-containing pewter tableware was unrelated to the mistrust of tomatoes as a foodstuff in Northern Europe during the 16th century. Mass production of glass products has seen glass universally replace pewter in day-to-day life. Pewter artifacts continue to be produced, mainly as decorative or specialty items. Pewter was also used around East Asia. Although some items still exist, Ancient Roman pewter is very rare.

"Unlidded" mugs and lidded tankards may be the most familiar pewter artifacts from the late 17th and 18th centuries, although the metal is also used for many other items including porringers, plates, dishes, basins, spoons, measures, flagons, communion cups, teapots, sugar bowls, beer steins and cream jugs. In the early 19th century, changes in fashion caused a decline in the use of pewter flatware, however, there was increased production of both cast and spun pewter tea sets, as well as whale-oil lamps, candlesticks, etc. Later in the century, pewter alloys were often used as a base metal for silver-plated objects.

Today, pewter is mainly used in decorative objects, mainly collectible statuettes and figurines, model aircraft, replica coins, pendants, etc. Certain athletic contests, such as the United States Figure Skating Championships, award pewter medals to the fourth place finishers. Interestingly, these medals cost more to produce than the 3rd place bronze medal.

Maintainence

There are a few useful tips to keeping your pewter clean found on a British manufacturing companies website by the name of A E Williams

It is good to know that pewter does no require constant attention or arm aching polishing and does not tarnish as readily as silver or silver-plate. Listed below are a few simple do's and dont's as a guide to help you retain your pewter's natural lustre.

Do Wash in warm soapy water or mild detergent. Dry with a soft cloth. Do Use methylated spirits to freshen your pewter. Do Use a non-abrasive metal polish to restore lustre to neglected pewter. Don't Expose your pewter to a naked flame or direct heat, i.e dont re-heat coffee in a pewter coffee pot. It melts! Don't Attempt to put pewter in a dishwasher.

See also

• Britannia metal
• English pewter
• Royal Selangor
• Spin casting

References

• Skeat, Walter William (1893), An etymological dictionary of the English language (2nd ed.), Clarendon Press.
• Campbell, Gordon (2006), The Grove encyclopedia of decorative arts (illustrated ed.), Oxford University Press, ISBN 9780195189483.
• Hull, Charles (1992), Pewter, Osprey Publishing, ISBN 9780747801528.

External links

• PewterBank