About Pewter

Pewter is a metal alloy, traditionally between 85 and 99 % tin, with the remainder consisting of 1-4 % copper, acting as a hardener, with the addition of lead for the lower grades of pewter and a bluish tint. There were three grades: Fine, for eatingware, with 96-99 % tin, and 1-4 % copper; Trifle, also for eating and drinking utensils but duller in appearance, with 92 % tin, 1-4 % copper, and up to 4 % lead; and Lay or Ley metal, not for eating or drinking utensils, which could contain up to 15 % lead. Modern pewter mixes the tin with copper, antimony and/or bismuth, as opposed to lead. Bismuth and zinc can also be added to pewter. Pewter cannot be used to make tools.

Physically, pewter is a bright, shiny metal that is very similar in appearance to silver. Like silver, pewter will also oxidize to a dull gray over time if left untreated. Pewter is a very malleable alloy, being soft enough to carve with hand tools, and it also takes good impressions from punches or presses. Some types of pewter pieces, such as candlesticks, would be turned on a metal lathe. Pewter has a low melting point, and duplication by casting will give excellent results.

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 china. 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. Roman pewter items are very rare, although some are still in existence. Pewter gradually stopped being used and by 1850, it was just about gone. By the 20th century, however, the craft was brought back into existence.

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, sugarbowls, and cream jugs. In the early 19thc, changes of fashion witnessed a decline in the use of pewter flatware, but increased production of both cast and spun pewter tea sets, whale-oil lamps, candlesticks, etc. Later in the century, pewter alloys were often used as a base metal for silver-plated objects.

The word pewter is probably a variation of the word spelter. This became peauter in Dutch, peautre in French, and many other languages.

Today, Pewter is still used in many things, namely collectible statues, replica coins, monuments, etc.

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History of Pewter

No one knows exactly when or how pewter was invented. Chinese pewter, believed to be about 2,000 years old, has been found. One of the reasons the Romans wanted to control England was because they wanted Cornwall's tin, copper, and lead mines, perhaps to make pewter. Romans used pewter for small utensils and seals. Some experts think items made with pewter were melted again after they were worn out, making pewter artifacts scarcer than they otherwise might be.

During the 1200's and 1300's, aristocrats in Europe used plates and utensils made out of pewter. By the mid-1300's, the pewter industry had grown to a point where guilds were formed to assure the quality of work being produced was adequate.

By the 1400's, pewter tableware graced the tables of all classes of people. The use of pewter continued to increase through the 1600's, when master pewter artisans worked in both Europe and the New World.

During the 1700's, the popularity of pewter started to decline. The advent of porcelain took its toll. During the 1800's, the invention of electroplating basically killed off what was left of the pewter tableware industry.

Although pewter tableware went out of fashion, pewter was still used by many artists of the Art Nouveau and Arts and Crafts periods. Artists during this period used pewter to create beautiful pieces of art, many of which are still treasured today.

During the 1950's and 1960's, centrifugal casting was developed. This new technology led to an increased popularity of the use of pewter in jewelry and art ware. (Laura Evans)

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How It's Made:

SPINNING: Flat discs of pewter are clamped into a lathe against a wood or metal form called a “chuck”. A hand spinning tool is then pressed against the turning disc with a series of carefully executed sweeps and movements to turn the pewter down over the chuck to form the desired shape.

CASTING: Molten pewter is poured into a bronze mold through a channel called a “Spru” or “Gate” and allowed to cool until solid or in some cases, is poured out at the proper time to create a hollow item such as a spout. Once the metal is “chilled”, the mold is opened and the casting is removed. The cast then has the spru cut off, parting marks removed and is polished and fitted for assembly.

ASSEMBLY: As all the various pewter parts are hand-crafted, each piece is carefully filed, drilled, shaped, burnished or ground to assure a perfect fit. The parts are then soldered together with a jewelers torch, using great care not to melt the piece and to assure a flawless joint.

FINISHING: Once the piece has been completed, it is then carefully polished and buffed by hand with a cloth wheel to achieve the desired lustre and patina...either satin or bright finish. As with most hand-crafted work, our pewter pieces may vary slightly in shape, size, finish or capacity from one piece to the next.

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Pewter Care and Facts:

CARE: Pewter is safe for foods and beverages and with a minimum amount of care, may be passed on to generations. pewter should be washed and dried as soon as is practical after use to avoid possible staining caused by certain foods and beverages. Pewter polished, scouring power or fine steel wool may be used to maintain satin finish pewter, should staining or scratches occur. You can also use "Pewter Wash" for normal cleaning. While our pewter is dishwasher safe, we do not recommend dishwasher use due to other elements that your pewter may come in contact with, which may cause staining or pitting.

CAUTIONS: Do not heat or cook in pewter, it will cause damage. Use a glass or other suitable liner for flowers and do not store beverages or foods in pewter that contain natural acids such as milk, juice, etc., as they may cause staining or pitting in your pewter piece.

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Pewterers' Marks

Pewter Marks, an Introduction
Pewter is frequently found without a single mark, top, bottom, inside or out. But much is laden with a wide variety of intriguing numbers, letters, words, and symbols that provides clues to maker, age, origin, and use. The following is an introduction to British pewter marks with references for pewter marks on pieces from mainland Europe and America.

British pewter may carry one or more of the following types of marks:

Pewterers' marks fall into five broad categories: touch marks, hallmarks, quality marks, labels and catalogue numbers. Below is an example of the marks of a pewterer who used four of these five types of marks (touch mark, hallmark, quality mark and a label).

For most pewter, the best guide to pewterers' marks is Cotterell's Old Pewter: It's Makers and Marks. However, it is not complete as many more marks have been recorded since it was written, and some of the information in the book is now known to be incorrect.

For wares made in Sheffield of Britannia metal, Scott's Pewter Wares from Sheffield, has a comprehensive list of pewterers' marks.

Pseudo-hallmarks
When brand new and highly polished, pewter looks very much like silver, and many pewterers stamped pseudo-hallmarks on their wares to mimic the hallmarks on silver. Whilst hallmarks on pewter can help identify the pewterer, they have no "official" significance, unlike hallmarks on silver. There are normally four hallmarks, but pewterers from Wigan often used five, whilst very occasionally other pewterers used just three. The hallmarks often include the pewterer's initials. Sometimes all four hallmarks are the same.

James Trew of London
1673 - c1680

Townsend & Compton of London
1784 - 1802

Labels
In the 18th and 19th centuries many pewterers put various labels on their wares. Some were essentially advertising slogans, such as "Superfine Hard Metal" to promote the idea that the goods were of a superior quality. Others such as "Made in London" identified where the pewter was supposedly made, but be warned: this description was applied not only by London pewterers but also by many provincial pewterers, and indeed even by some on mainland Europe. This is because traditionally London pewter was considered to be superior.

Robert Porteus of London 1762 - ?	Birch & Villers of Birmingham late 18th century	George Holmes of London 1743 - ?

Catalogue numbers
In the 19th and 20th century pewterers often produced catalogues of their wares and put the catalogue numbers on the articles themselves. They are normally simple stamped numbers of three, four or five digits, sometimes with a letter as well. They are most common on wares made of Britannia metal.

Verification and Capacity Marks
Verification and capacity marks only appear on measures of capacity. A capacity mark (such as "pint") is self explanatory. A verification mark signifies that the measure has been officially inspected and found to be of the correct capacity. Between 1826 and about 1878 each town generally had its own style of mark, but thereafter a uniform style was adopted consisting of a crown, the monarch's initials (ie VR or ER) and a number which signifies the location. Measures were often inspected several times during their lifetime and thus can carry several verification marks.

Prior to the introduction of the Imperial Standard in 1826, a "crowned WR" mark was sometimes used to indicate that the measure was made to the William III ale standard. The mark was usually applied by the pewterer, not by an inspector.

For a guide to verification marks, see Ricketts' Marks and Markings of Weights and Measures of the British Isles.

Pre-1878

Post-1878

Ownership Marks
Owners often applied their own marks to pewter, particularly on sadware. The most common is a simple triad of initials stamped on the rim, the centre initial being the surname and the other two the forenames of the husband and wife. However, some owners had crests or shields engraved on their pewter.

Pub pots of the 19th and 20th century often have the pub name and address inscribed on the underside.

Marks on pewter from the European mainland
As a general rule, in mainland Europe the marking of pewter was more tightly controlled. by the local guilds than in Britain. The style of mark often identifies the town, and indeed often includes the emblem or arms of the town.

Dates in such marks have nothing to do with the pewterer. They simply indicate the date of the relevant guild regulations, which in some instances may have been introduced 200 years earlier.

For a bibliography of books on European pewter marks, see Gadd's Books on European Pewter Marks.

Books on European Pewter Marks, Jan Gadd, 1999, ISBN 0 9508658 8 5. A comprehensive list of all the principle source books for European Pewterers’ touches, with analyses and comments. This and other publications are available to purchase from the Pewter Society.

Identification of Individual Items of Pewter
'The Pewter Society is willing to help members of the public identify individual items of pewter if we can. This service is free, but it is NOT available to dealers nor to individuals if the sole purpose of the identification is to facilitate the sale of the item.

Please e-mail a photograph of the item as a whole, plus good close-up images of any marks on it. A narrative description of the item with dimensions, etc. and information on where it came from would also help. Please tell us which part of the world you come from, because that may help to identify the likely provenance. Although we will try, we cannot guarantee to identify marks because sometimes this could take hours of research. In any case, many marks are as yet unrecorded or unidentified.

Our main expertise is in British and Irish pewter, but in some cases we can also help with pewter from continental Europe or North America . We are unlikely to be able to help with pewter from elsewhere in the world.

Our main expertise is also in pewter over 100 years old. We are unlikely to be able to help with pewter that is later than 1910 and there are no books on more-recent pewter. We may be able to help with Art Nouveau pewter, Liberty/Tudric, Kaiserzinn, etc., though you will probably be better talking with an Art Nouveau specialist.'

The Pewter Society.org

Marks on American pewter
American pewterers used touch marks, quality marks and, occasionally, hallmarks that are broadly similar to those used by British pewterers.

Ledly I. Laughlin has written an excellent guide to Pewter In America.

Pewter In America; Its Makers and Their Marks Ledly I. Laughlin, Barre Publishers, Barre, Massachusetts, 1981, ISBN 0 517 350637. Three volumes in-one.

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Quality Marks

Ley and trifle pewter did not carry any marks of quality. Plate pewter was marked with a letter'X' (denoting extraordinary ware), sometimes with a crown above it (1),= or was stamped with the words 'hard metal 'or' superfine hard metal' (2) A rose and crown stamp (3) also indicated fine quality pewter. At first this mark was for export ware only, although by the 18th century it had become more generally used. From the late 17th century, the word'London' was added to the rose and crown, but it was often used by provincial pewterers also, and so is no guarantee of provenance. Far right John Barlow of London1699 - ?

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Touch Marks

These are the most important marks to be found on pewter. 'Touch marks' or 'touches' as they are known are the maker's marks and take their name from official 'touch plates' on which they were stamped when being registered at Pewterers' Hall.The earliest touch plates dated from the beginning of the 15th century but were lost in the Great Fire of London in 1666.The practice of registering marks on the touch plates began again two years later and continued until 1824.

The marks do not appear on the touch plates in chronological order, having been punched in any empty space in a haphazard fashion. Five copper touch plates survive at the Pewterers' Company, but the corresponding register of makers has been lost, making individual identification impossible in many cases.

A maker's touch mark often consisted simply of his initials or name, but could also incorporate elaborate designs, sometimes with a play on words based on the man's name. Dates also occasionally form part of the mark, but they indicate the year when the touch was registered rather than the year the piece was made. The size of the touch marks varies according to the size of the item on which they appear, but as a very general rule, early marks tend to be smaller than later ones.

Unidentified 16th century	James Abernethie of Edinburgh 1640 - ?
Elizabeth Witter of London 1691 - ?	Stynt Duncumb of Bewdley c1740 - 1767	Munster Iron Company of Cork 1870 - 1894

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Other Marks

Good early pewter often bears elaborate ownership marks in a raised form, rather like a wax seal. Triads (a triangular formation) of letters stamped on the rim of a pewter plate are generally held to give the initials of the couple who owned it.

Small marks are also found on pewter in imitation of silver hallmarks, and usually consist of four shields (1). The symbols in the shields generally imitate genuine silver marks quite closely-for instance, the figure of Britannia, the lion passant and the leopard's head - presumably with the purpose of persuading the buyer that the item concerned contained real silver.

After 1826, tankards and measures used in taverns had to carry capacity marks.These were of local design until 1877, after which they were validated by an excise mark consisting of a crown over the monarch's initials and a code number, denoting the area in which inspection of capacity had been carried out (2).

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Sample Touch Marks

The touch marks below are a small selection of examples where identification of the maker is possible.They are taken from Touch Plates I and IV at Pewterers' Hall, and serve to illustrate the variety that exists among the hundreds of touch marks registered there. If the touch mark you are seeking is not included, you should consult one of the specialist reference works on pewter marks in your local library. Note that 'master,' 'warden', 'steward' and 'yeoman' were ranks and appointments within the guild structure of the Pewterers' Company.

Pewterers Hall
Oat Lane,
London,
EC2V 7DE
Telephone: 020 7606 9363

The Worshipful Company of Pewterer

Sample marks from Touch Plates I

1 'RL' in an oval with a comet between the letters. Robert Lucas, who became a steward of the Pewterers' Company in 1651 and master in 1667.

2 'NK' in a beaded circle with a hand grasping a rose. Thought to be Nicholas Kelk, master in 1665, 1681 and 1686.

3 'SI' in a small beaded circle with a lamb and flag. Probably Samuel Jackson, working in the late 17thC.

4 'WA' in a small circle. Possibly William Austin or William Ayliffe, both working in the late 17thC.

S 'TF' in a beaded oval with a fountain.-This is a pun on the maker's name,Thomas Fontaine or Fountain, who took up his livery in 1670.

6 'William Burton' in a beaded circle with a hand holding a sceptre. He was a warden in 1675 and 1680, and master in 1685.

7 'RH' in a beaded circle with a locust, three stars and the date [16156. Ralph Hulls, warden in 1671 and 1677, master in 1682.

8 'C' in a beaded circle with a crown and cockerel. Another play on a name - Humphrey Cock, who took up his livery in 1679.

9 John Bull' with a bull's head and two stars in a beaded circle. Late 17thC.

10 'PP' in a circle with a beacon and the date 1668.This could be the mark of Peter Parke or Peter Priest.

11 'SA' in a beaded circle with a lion rampant. Thought to be Sam Atley, who took his livery in 1667.

12 'SQ' in a beaded heart with an arrow and a key with the date [16173.Thought to be Sam Quissenborough.

Sample marks from Touch Plates IV

1 'Henry Maxted' with pillars and the sun shining on a rose. Yeoman 1731.

2 'Iohn Kenrick'with a stork between two pillars. Yeoman 1737, warden 1754.

3 'Philip Roberts'with a lion rampant and a crescent. Yeoman 1738.

4 'RC' in a beaded circle with a lamb holding a crook. Thought to be a play on the name Robert Crooke, yeoman 1738.

5 'I Perry' with a female figure between pillars.Yeoman 1743, warden 1773.

6 'lohn Hartwell' with a saltire and four castles. Yeoman 1736.

7 'lonathan Leach' with a quartered shield of arms showing a rose, a sprig of laurel and a lamb and flag.The fourth quarter is illegible. Yeoman 1732.

8 'Thomas Giffin' with a dagger piercing a heart and a ducal coronet, all between pillars. Yeoman 1759.

9 'A Jenner' in a plain rectangle. Thought to be Anthony Jenner, yeoman 1754.

10 'Jno Appleton' with a still and a worm. Yeoman 1768, warden 1799, master 1800.

11 'C Swift' in an indented square with a thistle and a rose (the badge of Queen Anne).Yeoman 1770.

12 'Wood & Hill' with two sheep in a shield.Thought to be Thomas Wood (yeoman 1792) and Roger Hill (yeoman 1791).

Note: 'I' was often used for 'J.' 'Ino' and'Jno 'stand for 'John'.

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Pewter Glossary

Alloy
A homogeneous mixture or solid solution of two or more metals, the atoms of one replacing or occupying interstitial positions between the atoms of the other: Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc.

Antimony
One of the metals that may be alloyed with tin to create pewter. First used by French pewterers in the 17th century then British pewterers in the late 17th century and by American pewterers in the 19th century. Antimony is the latest addition to the pewter alloy. Pewter, like gold, is too soft by itself to be a useful metal. Prior to the 1800's, European pewter makers added lead to the alloy to provide strength. Since crafters began to smelt their own pewter in the Americas, however, antimony has been used instead. In addition to being much safer than lead, antimony also adds a lighter finish to the alloy.

Baluster
A measure with a distinctive, slightly bulbous body. Usually lidded, and often classified by the shape of the thumbpiece (eg hammerhead, bud, double volute). Very long history of use. Replaced in the 1820s by the squatter bulbous measure whose body has a much more pronounced bulge.

Basin
A narrow rim deep bowl, most often used domestically.

Beading
A narrow decorative molding resembling a row of beads 1/16" or smaller in diameter. It is formed by a beading tool, in somewhat the same manner as a pie crimper, applied with pressure against the edge of a rotating piece in a lathe. It is most often found on Philadelphia pieces with neoclassic styling. Also see Gadrooning.

Beaker
A handless mug or cup. Most common is of the nineteenth century.

Beefeater
A flagon, c 1660-1700, with a lid that is similar in shape to a Beefeater's hat.

Bellied measure
See bulbous measure below.

Bleeding bowl
A porringer-like piece for blood letting with graduation marks around the inside of the bowl. Usually has straight, rather than curved, sides.

Bobeche
A disk or flange-shaped extension at the top of a candlestick nozzle used to catch and retain the candle wax drippings. Most are cast with the nozzle but some are a separate casting and are removable.

Bouge (or booge)
The round wall between the well and rim of a plate or dish. Brim. The broad, flattened upper edge or rim of a plate, dish or charger surrounding the deeper body of the flatware.

Britannia Metal
A trade description for a pewter alloy containing a high proportion of antimony - typically 92% tin, 6% antimony and 2% copper. This alloy was first introduced by Sheffield manufacturers in the late 18th century and is a product of the industrial revolution. It was also known in its early days as white metal. It is stronger than other pewter alloys and thus allowed articles to be made by cold-forming the alloy in sheet form (eg by spinning or stamping) rather than by casting. NB Some earlier books assert that Britannia Metal is not pewter!

Bud
Term used to describe a particular thumb piece type frequently found on baluster measures. "Each end is a 'leafed' projection faintly like a bud, and comparable with car springs pressed together.

Bulbous measure
A round bodied, mug-like piece made in abundance during the 19th century and into the 20th century used in pubs and inns to provide varying measures of beer, ale and spirits. Usually lidless, and in sizes ranging from a gallon downward to very small pieces.

Camphene
A volatile, turpentine-derived liquid fuel used for lighting. Camphene lamps are distinguished from whale oil lamps by their longer, tapered burners without air slots. Wick caps are usually provided to prevent fuel evaporation when not in use.

Capstan
A form named after the devise used to tie a boat to a dock. In pewter, a form often found in inkwells and sanders. Common in English pewter; rare in American pewter. A salt in the general form of a capstan; in use c 1675-1700. Cartouche. A scroll-like label that may contain the pewterer's name, place or city, Hard Metal, London, or other words. See Pewter Marks.

Casting
Process whereby molten pewter is poured into a mould to form the desired article. This was the main way of forming pewter articles until the introduction of Britannia Metal allowed articles to be cold-formed from sheet metal. However, even then casting continued to be used for certain articles such as measures and pub pots, and it was also used to form the knops, handles, feet etc of articles whose bodies were made from sheet metal.

Caster
A pieced used to dispense salt, sugar or sand.

Castor Holder or Cruet Stand
A frame mounted on a flat base to hold small shaker-top bottles of salt, pepper, oil, vinegar, etc

Cellar
A container (usually open) used to hold salt (corruption of 'salière').

Chairback
Name used to describe a thumb piece of flagons and tankards in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.

Chalice
A stemmed cup used for ecclesiastical purposes

Charger
A piece of sadware, 18 inches (460mm) or greater in diameter.

Chatter Marks
Coarse radial lines extending outward from the center on the bottoms of mugs, tankards, plates, etc., and caused by vibration of the skimming tool used in smoothing the pieces on a lathe. Chatter marks are especially pronounced on 17th and 18th century pewter skimmed on lathes with wooden bearings.

Chopin
A Scottish measure with a capacity equal to a half Scots pint, or 1½ pint Imperial measure.

Corrosion
The slow formation of a dark layer on the surface of pewter over time. Depending on the alloy, the corrosion can range from a very thin and hard layer to thick and crusty scale.

Communion token
A piece of pewter, coin like (often round or rectangular), issued to those determined suitable to take communion.

Copper
Copper is added to pewter in trace elements (less than 2 percent) to avoid a yellowing color in pewter and generally represents a small percentage of the mix. Copper also adds an amount of ductility and flexibility.
Characterized by a decorative scalloped edge as, for example, in lids of pewter tankards.

Crested
A Scottish tappit hen with a knop on the lid.

Dish
A piece of sadware 11 to 18 inches (280 to 460 mm) in diameter.

Dome lid
Describes a flagon or tankard lid type common from c 1680 to the nineteenth century.

Double dome lid
Describes another flagon or tankard lid type. A stepped dome that gives the appearance of a smaller dome atop a larger dome.

Double volute
Term used to describe a particular thumb piece type frequently found on baluster measures.

Drum
The body of a tankard, mug, measure, or flagon.

Drum-shape
An adjective used to describe the body form of a piece of hollowware, most often a teapot of neo-classic design. It can be used to describe the body form of a mug, tankard or flagon but these are often referred to as a tapered cylinder.

English Export Pewter
English pewter exported to America from the late 17th century through the first quarter of the 19th century. Several forms such as pear-shaped teapots and creamers, drum-shaped teapots, and sugar bowls were made specifically for the American market and are rarely found in England. At the time of the American Revolution as well as today, there are more pieces of English Export Pewter to be found in this country than pieces made by American pewterers.

E.P.B.M
Electroplated Britannia Metal.

Eruption
Oxidation (corrosion) which has resulted in surface bubbles.

Fake
A piece made purposefully to deceive prospective buyers.

Fillet
A narrow, slightly raised band often used around the body of a tankard, mug, measure or flagon for decoration and to strengthen the cylinder wall.

Finial
Various. The knop of a spoon; the terminal end of a handle on a tankard, mug, etc.; or the knop on the lid of a flagon, teapot or other lidded piece.

Flagon
A lidded container, typically used in a church to carry wine for the sacraments. Used domestically as well.

Flat lid
As opposed to dome lid. Describes an American tankard lid type made in the 18th century but patterned on the English flat lid tankards (Stuart tankards) common from 1650 to 1700.

Flatware
Name given for pewter such as plates and dishes, to distinguish it from Hollow-ware. A more modern term for sadware.

Font
In pewter lamps, the closed reservoir which holds the liquid fuel (whale oil, cammphene, etc.). Also, a bowl-like vessel used in the Sacrament of Baptism.

Gadrooned
"Raised cast beading, at a steep angle to the edge." (1, pg 193). A form of decorative.

Gadrooning
A decorative cast molding resembling a row of oval-shapped beads 1/4" or so in size. In American pewter it is most often found on candlesticks made by the Meriden Britannia Manufacturing Co., Flag & Homan, and Homan & Co. A narrow rope-like type of stamped gadrooning is found on some Trask britannia pieces.Also see Beading.

Garnish
A set of sadware for the table, usually a dozen of each size.

Gill
A quarter of a pint. (See also noggin.)

Gimbal or Ship's Lamp
A lamp attached to its base by a suspension device which allows it to swing freely and remain level when the base is tipped.

Guernsey measure
A type of measure typical of those made for use in Guernsey; strongly influenced by pewter forms from Normandy.

Hallmarks
Similar in appearance (but not meaning) to hall marks used by gold and silversmiths. Designed by the maker and presumably used to make pewter appear as much like silver as possible. See Pewter Marks.

Hammered booge
The booge of all English sadware was hammered; however American pewterers discontinued this practice, as a means of reducing costs, after the Revolutionary War. Hammering was thought to strengthen the metal, but modern metallurgists know that pewter quickly loses this strengthening effect.

Hammerhead
A rare type of thumb piece found on early baluster measures and flagons. Similar in appearance to a hammer.

Hammermen
A term that was used in Scotland and many provincial British towns for metalworkers (including pewterers) whose work involves use of a hammer.

Haystack
An Irish measure with a shape reminding one of a haystack or possibly an oast house.

Haystack measure
A 19th century Irish measure with a shape similar to a haystack. Never imported into this country, but many were brought here by Irish immigrants in the 19th century. Many have also been brought into this country in the 20th century by collectors and dealers.

Hollow-ware
Vessels (such as measures, mugs, tankards, and flagons) made to hold liquids, as distinct from sadware.

Imperial Standard
Established throughout Great Britain in the Geo. IV Weights and Measure Act of 1824 with introduction delayed until 1 January 1826. This replaced the Old English Wine Standard (OEWS) and many other regional standards in the UK. The Act, of course, had no effect on America's use of the OEWS which continues in use to the present time. 1 Imperial Standard Gallon = 1.2 OEWS Gallon.

Journeyman
A trained craftsman working for a master pewterer.

Knop
A bulge or knob on the stem of a chalice or candlestick for decoration and convenience in holding.

Lathe
A machine tool by which work is rotated on a horizontal axis and shaped or cut by a fixed tool.

Lead
One of the metals that may be alloyed with tin to create pewter. Romano-British pewter often contains a relatively high lead content, making it fairly soft and heavy. Some British pewter measures of the late 17th and early 18th century can also contain a significant lead content. Because there were no tin mines in the USA, the only source of tin for 18th century American pewterers was scrap English pewter, melted down and adulterated with lead. This is why, generally, most American cast pewter will contain more lead than comparable English pewter. However, modern L.T.P. (London Touch Plate), Britannia, English or American pewter contains no lead by law.

Linen Mark
The handles of porringers and some other pewter vessels were attached by fusing the metal without solder. A handle mold with openings at points of connection was placed against the finished body of the vessel and then filled with molten pewter, which melted part of the body at the joint, forming a strong bond. A "tinker's dam," a heat-absorbing bag of linen or burlap filled with wet sand, was pushed against the inside of the vessel during this procedure and usually left an imprint of the cloth--a "linen mark"--in the softened metal adjacent to the exterior contact with the handle mold.

Maker's mark
See Pewter Marks.

Mark
See hall mark, maker's mark, secondary mark, touch mark and verification mark. See Pewter Marks.

Measure
A container of standard capacity regulated by government inspectors who verified the capacity and placed verification marks on the measures. Lidded baluster measures of the "Bud" and "Double volute" type were exported to this country from England and marked with American verification marks. It is believed that some of these baluster types were made in America but only a couple have been found with American maker's marks. The Boardmans of Connecticut made lidless baluster measures in the 19th century. English bulbous measures were made throughout the 19th century and well into the 20th century but were never exported to this country. However thousands have been brought to this country by dealers and collectors since World War II.

Mug
A lidless, handled container of various forms and standard capacities. Frequently used in pubs to serve beer, ale, or spirits. Pub pieces may have a variety of marks to include makers, capacity, verification, and others which suggest provenance. Mugs are usually wider at the bottom than at the top. Silver mugs are often called "Canns".

Multi-reed
A descriptive term for a plate, dish or charger with several decorative rings at the edge of the rim, usually cast but occasionally incised. Popular from 1675 to 1715. Scarce in English pewter; extremely rare in American pewter.

Mutchkin
A Scottish measure that is one quarter of a Scots pint (15 fluid ounces).

Narrow rim
A plate (or, rarely, other sadware) with an exceptionally narrow rim, less than 10% of the overall diameter.

Noggin
An Irish measure of a quarter of a pint.

O.E.W.S
Old English Wine Standard, the most commonly used standard for liquid measure in England during the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries. It was used in the American colonies as well and continues in use in the U.S. to the present time. However, the United Kingdom adopted the Imperial Standard in 1826.

Oxidation
One of the processes which contributes to corrosion.

Paten
A shallow plate used for bread during Holy Communion.

P.C.C.A
Pewter Collectors' Club of America.

Pewter
Pewter is an alloy consisting of mainly tin and containing antimony and copper for strength and color, respectively. Although the percentages vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, a standard for present day pewter is approximately 91 percent tin, 7.5 percent antimony, and 1.5 percent copper. Modern pewter contains NO LEAD whatsoever.

Pewter mark
Current marks being revised. This shows the manufacturer of the item and gives tells of the make-up of the item.

Pip
Pre-imperial pub pot. A pub piece manufactured before Imperial measure standards of 1826.

Plate
A piece of sadware, 7 to 10 inches (180 to 280 mm) in diameter.

Planish
To give a smooth finish to metal by repeated striking with a smooth faced hammer. A technique used by 17th and 18th century English pewterers and 18th century American pewterers to give a more finished appearance to intricately designed porringer handles. It is especially noticeable on "Crown Handle" designs but was used on other designs as well. The practice was discontinued in the 19th century.

Porringer
A small bowl with either one or two handles or "ears". Used for eating soft food such as gruel.

Provenance
Attributions of maker, owner, or locality made.

Pub pot
See mug, pip, and tankard.

Quaich
A rare style of Scottish porringer, used to drink from.

Rattail
A tapering extension or thickening of a spoon handle onto the underside of the bowl.

Reed
The moulding, usually cast, a round the edge of sadware; multiple or single denoting period made.

Repousse
Relief decoration formed by hammering from the underside.

Reproduction
A piece made to appear as an older form with no intention to deceive the buyer as to age.

Sadware
Plates, dishes and chargers. A more common term today is flatware.

Salt
An open vessel used for dispensing salt. From a time when salt was a very precious commodity.

Saucer
An item of sadware less than 7 inches (180mm) in diameter.

Scale
Hard oxide on pewter. Prone to flaking with rough handling.

Seaming
A forming technique used in the manufacture of Britannia cylindrical vessels. A sheet of pewter would be bent into the desired shape, the joint where the ends meet bonded with solder, and the resulting seam disguised through polishing and placement under an attached handle. Usually more visible on the inside of a vessel.

Secondary marks
Any mark other than a touch mark which was struck on his/her wares by a pewterer. Common secondary marks include hall marks, a crowned X mark, the pewterer's city, and owners initials. See Pewter Marks.

Sheen
Glistening brightness and luster.

Single reed
A descriptive term for a plate, dish or charger with a single cast ring at the edge of the rim (on the upper surface). Popular from c 1690 to 1730, though some pewterers (eg those in Bristol, or those exporting to the US) went on using this style into the 19th century.

Skimming
The process of removing surplus metal and smoothing rough surfaces of cast pewter by scraping with a tool as the piece rotates on a lathe.

Skimming marks
Marks left by skimming tools, usually found on the backs of plates, the outside bottom of porringer bowls, basins, mugs and tankards, areas less frequently seen and therefore not as carefully finished. Slush Cast. The casting method used in pewter manufacturing to create hollow appendages such as handles and spouts. Hot pewter poured into a cool mold solidifies around the contact with the mold, allowing the still molten core to be poured out.

Solder
An alloy, usually of lead and tin, which melts relatively easily and is used to join pieces of metal such as pewter. As a verb, the process of joining metals with a solder bond.

Spinning
Process of forming an article by mounting a piece of sheet metal on a chuck and forcing it over a form while it is rotating.

Stamping
Process of forming an article by stamping a piece of sheet metal over a form in a press.

Standish
An inkstand, most frequently with lid (single or double) and footed.

Tankard
A cylindrical drinking vessel with a handle, a hinged cover, and a projecting thumbpiece for raising the cover or lid. Tankards are usually wider at the bottom than at the top. (Unlidded drinking vessels are usually called "mugs".)

Tappit hen
A Scottish measure found in various sizes (eg chopin and mutchkin) of a distinctive waisted form.

Tavern or pub pot
Lidless drinking mug owned by the tavern or pub.

Tin
Tin is the major metal in the alloy pewter. At somewhere between 91 and 93 percent of the alloy's composition, tin is the reason for pewter's resistance to corrosion, it's softness, and it's ductility. Tin pest. The disintegration of pure tin into powder at very low temperatures as it loses its crystalline structure. Contrary to the statements in some early books on pewter, tin pest never affects pewter which is usually a tin alloy.

Touch mark
See our Pewter Marks

Triple reed
A multi reed plate, dish or charger with three reeds or moldings on the rim, either cast or incised.

Verification Marks
Government inspector's marks placed on a vessel certifying that the vessel was of proper standard to dispense a particular measure. Pieces may have been initially verified at source of manufacture, but were certainly verified at their place of use as well. American verification marks are usually found only on baluster measures made in American or imported from England. See Pewter marks.

Wavy edge
A piece of sadware whose rim is formed of curved segments.

White metal
This mark is found on English sadware (Britannia Metal) including pieces exported to America. Designates lead-free pewter containing antimony, i.e., a high quality alloy.

Wriggling or Wrigglework
Zig-zag "engraving", made by walking a screwdriver-like tool from corner to corner of the blade.