www.GilbertPewter.com

Made By Hand in Ottawa, Canada Since 1986 mjg@gilbertpewter.com

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General Questions about Pewter What is pewter? Does it contain lead? What is the difference between a pewterer and a pewtersmith? How do you clean pewter? Do I do custom work? Do I do repairs? Do I sell wholesale? Could I teach you to work with pewter, or sell you 'raw' pewter? Do I make any wizards (chess sets, etc.)? What is pewter? Does it contain lead? Pewter is a metal: it is an alloy of tin, antimony and copper. Most modern pewter, including the pewter I use, does not contain lead. While most pewterers avoid lead because of the health hazards it poses, it originally fell into disfavour because the poor quality of lead alloy makes for poor quality pewter work. Pewter containing lead is soft and dark, and does not wear well. For this reason, the Pewter Guilds in Europe began banning the use of lead in the 1760's. Violation of the ban could mean expulsion from the guild and seizure of the violator's equipment. Back to the top of this page What is the difference between a pewterer and a pewtersmith? A pewtersmith "smites": he does hammered work. Since my work is exclusively cast, I am a pewterer. Back to the top of this page How do you clean pewter? The dark finish on antique pewter is called the 'patina', and is a natural and desirable result of ageing. Do not use any kind of abrasive or polish, as this will damage the finish. Modern pewter comes in a variety of finishes, and an abrasive or polish can also damage some of these different finishes. The safest way to clean pewter is with soap and warm water, cleaning it gently by hand, and drying it thoroughly afterwards. Back to the top of this page Do I do custom work? Please refer to my Commissioned Work page. Back to the top of this page Do I do repairs? Being self-taught, pewter repairs are generally outside my field of expertise. You might try looking for a pewterer or pewtersmith in your area (try asking at a local jewellery store - they may be able to direct you to one). Please, if you think the piece that requires repair might be antique, do not try to repair it yourself! Back to the top of this page Do I sell wholesale? Yes! If you are interested in carrying my pewter work in your shop, please write to me (or send me a fax) on your letterhead, and I'll send you a copy of my catalogue along with wholesale information (prices, minimum order, etc.). Write to me at: Michael J. Gilbert P.O. Box 23094, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K2A 4E2 Fax: (613) 724-3783 Back to the top of this page Could I teach you to work with pewter, or sell you 'raw' pewter? I regret that, no, I can't help with either of these requests. You may, however, find the information you're looking for in one of these reference books. Back to the top of this page Do I make any wizards (chess sets, etc.)? There are many pewter companies around, and many of these produce items like chess sets and fantasy figures. I try to make things that interest me personally, and that I've never seen produced in pewter before. I do make a wide variety of items, however; you can see a selection of my work in my online gallery. Back to the top of this page Copyright © Michael J. Gilbert. All rights reserved.