Pewter
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Pewter is a malleable metal alloy, traditionally between 85 and 99 percent tin, with the remainder commonly consisting of copper, antimony 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, depending on the exact mixture of metals.
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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 to be considered a pewter. They also no longer contain appreciable amounts of lead, which has been replaced by copper, antimony and bismuth. Older pewters with higher lead content are heavier, tarnish faster, and oxidation gives them a darker silver-grey color. When modern pewter does become tarnished, it is more easily cleaned than "classic" pewter.
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 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.
Today, pewter is mainly used in decorative objects, namely collectible statuettes and figurines, replica coins, pendants, etc. Certain athletic contests, such as the United States figure skating championships, award pewter medals to the fourth place finishers.
See also
- Britannia metal
- English pewter
- Royal Selangor
- Spin casting - a common method for mass producing pewter castings.
