Pewter - Collecting

Pewter, first made by the early Chinese, was originally an alloy of tin and lead. The finest pewter consists of tin hardened with a little antimony, copper, and bismuth. Inferior pewter contains a great deal of lead. New articles made of pewter do not, as yet, occur often today, but it was once much favored for dishes, porringers, cups and saucers, tankards, and pots.

From the early 1200's, pewter was widely used as tableware throughout Europe. It was the poor man's silver, and it was used for about every purpose that silver served more elegantly but no more adequately. It continued in favor in Europe until it was ultimately displaced by chinaware during the eighteenth century.

American pewter dates back to the seventeenth century. It continued in common use here much later than it did in Europe and reached the peak of its popularity for tableware between 1750 and 1850.

Many fine collections of American and European pewter are on display in museums. Good single pieces or whole collections are frequently offered at auction galleries in the larger cities, but you have a better chance of picking up real bargains at country auctions. Reliable antique dealers are safe sources for fine pieces of old pewter.

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