|
History of Pewter |
|
History of Pewter The origins of pewter are lost in the sands of time. It is known that pewter was used in ancient Egypt, the earliest known piece being a flask which was excavated at Abydos and dated to 1400 BC. We next hear of pewter in Roman Britain. Some authorities believe that one of the reasons for the invasion of Britain was to control the Cornish tin mines, not I hasten to add for pewter manufacture, but for adding to copper for the production of bronze alloy. Roman pewter can be traced with certainty to the second century A.D. They made exquisite wine ewers, large plates, saucers, footed bowls and many other domestic and probably religious items. When the Roman’s artisan’s left Britain in the fifth century they took the craft of pewter manufacture with them.
We do not hear of pewter again until the 13th century. It is likely that it was introduced to these shores by Norman craftsmen. In the early medieval times pewter would have been for ecclesiastical use only but soon the wealthy merchant class wanted their plates made of pewter rather than wooden trenchers or earthenware. Pewter was something new, a much more exciting material, it resembled silver and was certainly a status symbol. In the Tudor and Stuart period’s pewter continued it’s popularity. Pewter’s “golden age” was 1650 to 1720.In this period styles found their most perfect forms. The 18th century saw pewter’s popularity decline. People wanted a lighter and prettier material. A much less heavy form of pewter was invented in Sheffield. This was called Britannia metal which became popular in the last quarter of the 18th century and was still popular well into the Victorian period. But the long march of porcelain was irresistible. Pretty, dainty porcelain was in vogue and pewter became banished to the taverns. It was still being used in pub’s as late as the 1930’s.
Pewter was much used in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco periods and is still being produced today. Pewter is any alloy of which approximately 90% is tin. The difference being made up of Bismuth, Antimony, Lead or Copper, the proportion varying according to the century. Pewter was the plastic of it’s age, anything that did not require direct heat was made of pewter, such as; measures, tankard’s, candlesticks, plates, flagons, salts, pepper pots, bowls and chalices, pilgrim’s badge’s, baby feeder’s, pap boats, urinals, bleeding bowls, buttons and hundreds of other things. Friends and relatives ask us-why pewter? Why this affection for what is at best a dull grey metal and at worst a heavily corroded, misshapen piece of metal? Surely, they say, brass, copper or Sheffield plate are far more attractive?. Obviously we would not agree with them. So what is the attraction of pewter? The feel of the metal? The subtle lines? The soft fireside glow? The touch marks? The engraved family crests? The answer is yes to all of these questions. But there is something much more important than any of these reasons.
In these days of mass advertising we are bombarded with what we know are falsehoods. Every car is said to be better, faster, sexier than the one before. Every hairspray turns you into a Hollywood movie star. We are living in fictitious times. There seems to be few ways of escaping from this unreal existence. We search for serenity and truth. This is where pewter comes in. Pewter is non pretentious. It does not masquerade .It does not claim to be what it is not. It is refreshingly honest. W. S. Gilbert expressed it perfectly(and this in 1889)-“The end is easily foretold, when every blessed thing you hold, is made of silver or of gold, you long for simple pewter” The Museum of British Pewter - Harvard House Pewter Collectors Club of America Worshipful Company of Pewterers Portobello Road Antiques Dealers Association
|