odern pewter does not tarnish as the old pewter did, but the occasional use of a good metal polish is necessary. We suggest Hagerty's Pewter Wash as being exceptionally good.

After use, use warm soapy water and dry immediately with a soft cloth to avoid water marks.

If pewter has been badly scratched, the use of 0000 steel wool may be effective in restoring the piece. This fine grade of steel wool should be used gently in a circular motion. We will gladly refinish any article we produce for a reasonable charge.

Do not put pewter on the stove, into a dishwasher or microwave, or near any extreme heat. Pewter has a low melting point.

Always use a glass liner or clear plastic wrap to line the bowl when making floral arrangements.

Don’t leave citrus juices, salad dressing, or dips in a pewter item for too long.

Care should be taken in cutting meats, cakes, etc. on pewter, as it is relatively soft.

Give your pewter the same care you give your sterling and it will stay lovely for years to come.

What is Pewter and How is it Crafted?

Pewter is made by melting copper, antimony and tin. Tin is alloyed with antimony to harden the pewter so it won’t crack or split when hammered. Copper is added to the alloy of tin and antimony to make the metal malleable and ductile. Lead was taken out of all American pewter in the 1930s because of its harmful reaction to weak acids.

The most common ways to craft pewter today are by forming, fabricating, soldering and beating pewter into molds. Pewter pieces were all cast in molds until 1807, Molds are hollow forms used to shape melted pewter. Castings are things formed in a mold. Except for large plates, bowls and chargers, which were hammered out in large wooden molds, most early pewter was cast in bronze or brass molds.

Another way to craft pewter is by hammering. The tools used for hammering include various molds and a variety of leather-covered hammers and rubber mallets. At Riverwood Pewter we use files, hand drills and jewelers saws to create designs in our work.

The most common method of pewter production was spinning, pressing pewter against wooden or steel forms rotating around a lathe. A lathe is a machine used for shaping a piece of wood by rotating it on its axis while cutting away excess material with a tool.
 

The History of Pewter

The Chinese, Japanese, Greeks and Romans began using pewter two thousand years ago. Pewter emerged in Italy, Spain, Germany the Netherlands, France and England after the Dark Ages. Before 1750 everyone wanted pewter, but only the wealthy could afford it.

The famous Worshipful Company of  Pewterers of London Guild took the lead in making pewter more of a household item in homes of the common people. In fact, another name for it is Britannia metal.

In the late seventeenth century there were three types of pewterers: the “triflers” who made odds and ends, the “sad-ware men” who made plates and chargers, and the “hollow ware men” who made pots and vessels. In the late 1700’s a few silversmiths later became known as pewterers, while some combined the two trades.

During the colonial period, the American poor usually bought pewter since it was cheaper than silver. In the early 1800’s pewter replaced wooden utensils and was used in every household and in churches.

Antique American pewter is rare because people began recycling pewter in a melting pot because the British Isles supplied the tin and the importation taxes were high. While in England there were thousands of pewtersmiths, there are records of only 200 pewtersmiths in America. England wanted American to buy their pewter therefore they raised the export price on tin, making it less expensive to buy the completed products, rather than the materials.

Toward the end of the 18th century the mass production of good quality china and potery had a dramatic effect on the market for pewterware. However, today there is a renewed interest in the pewterer’s craft. The beauty of texture and color, the comparative freedom from oxidation, and the high ideals and traditions associated with pewter have given it a place among other American arts and crafts.