Pewter
Pewter
is an alloy whose main element is tin. Copper, lead, bismuth, zinc, and antimony
added in varying amounts give the mixture its variable weight and hardness.
It
was used mainly in the home. It was the common table ware of Colonial America
in the 18th century and was used well into the 19th century. Nearly every conceivable
form was made of pewter: plates, basins, serving dishes, mugs, tankards, pots
and more.
How
was it made?
Most
pewter objects were made by casting the melted alloy into molds, which were
made most frequently of bronze, brass, and bell metal. The products of the
molds were then trimmed, spun on a lathe, and soldered together to make the
finished piece.
How
old is pewter?
Pewter
has been in use for several thousand years. The Egyptians, Greeks, and the
Chinese were proficient in the art of making pewter. Roman pewter has been
excavated in Britain, suggesting a pewter industry of reasonable size in the
third and fourth centuries.
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