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

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A Brief History of Pewter Pewter was probably first made in the Bronze Age (between 2000 and 500 BC). Pewter and bronze are related alloys; pewter is mostly tin, with a small amount of copper (and other ingredients), while bronze is an alloy made up primarily of copper, with a small amount of tin. It seems likely that pewter was invented when the quantities of metal in the alloy were reversed - though whether this was by accident or design is impossible to tell! Examples of Roman pewter - mostly spoons and other small utensils - still exist in museums. Most items made of pewter in this era were utilitarian. Being a soft metal, pewter spoons etc. would eventually wear out, and would then likely be melted down to make something new. So, very old examples of pewter are not nearly as common as are pieces made of harder metals like bronze. By the middle ages the use of pewter was widespread. It was mainly used for functional items like plates and cutlery - but pewterers also made small decorations and toys, referred to as "trifle". The growth of the pewter industry in Europe at this time led to the establishment of guilds, which regulated the quality of work produced by pewterers. "The Worshipful Company of Pewterers" was established in England in 1348 for this purpose. Towards the end of the 18th century, the mass production of good quality pottery had a dramatic effect on the market for utilitarian pewterware, forcing many pewterers out of business. And with the introduction of electroplating, pewter was largely reduced in status to a metallic base for silver plate. At the same time, the British introduced a new type of pewter alloy called "Britannia Metal", which was more easily worked. But by this time pewterware was more often being produced by large companies using industrial mass production techniques, than by individual craftsmen using traditional techniques. The Arts and Crafts movement, at the end of the 19th century, brought a revival in interest in handcrafted work - and with it, a revival in the pewterer's craft. This renewed interest in pewtering as an exercise in individual craftsmanship has continued to the present day. Back to the top of this page Copyright © Michael J. Gilbert. All rights reserved.