History of Pewter

Objects of pewter date from about 1500 BCE. The Romans made various domestic use items of pewter and spread its manufacture throughout Europe. They introduced pewter making in Britain during the second century. Tin mines in Cornwall provided British pewter makers with a reliable supply of the metal, and these British mines were a major source of tin throughout Europe. Relatively large quantities of domestic pewter ware was made during the Romano-British period ending early in the 5th century. Several museums in England have collections of this early pewter; objects include plates, bowls, cups and jugs. I have examined a number of Romano-British pewter pieces at the British Museum; I am amazed at the complexity of construction of several of these pieces especially the flanged lipped bowls. This pewter is all the more surprising because these pieces were cast using stone molds.

Roman Flanged Lipped Bowl

Of particular interest to me are pewter Pilgrims’ badges and ampullae made during the late Middle Ages. These, generally, small objects were cast into stone molds; they required little metal and could be quickly made. Pilgrims traveling to religious sites acquired these badges or pins as remembrances or physical signifiers of their journey. I can imagine a pilgrim thinking, ‘I made this journey’; ‘I endured this pilgrimage, I earned this badge’. Pilgrims’ badges were often made under special license. They may have physically touched the holy site or the object of religious significance giving rise to the site, like the bones of a saint. This could make them vaguely relic-like and add to their value for the pilgrim. Because of this relic-like value, a past pilgrim might use his badge as an amulet while praying for a special favor. Badges might give their bearers special privileges at wayside inns or in other ways while on their journey. Some pilgrims threw their badges into a body of water near their home on completing a pilgrimage, possibly as a gift of thanks for a safe journey.

Pilgrim's Badges

Pilgrims’ ampullae are a bit more complex in their making. They were also cast into stone molds, but the ampullae were hollow not flat like badges. This was done using a technique called slush casting. Two or more sections of a stone mold were held together and molten metal was poured into an opening in the mold. Then after a few seconds, the mold was turned upside down and the still molten metal was poured out. When the mold was opened a thin metal shell was formed. What happens in the mold during those few seconds when it was filled with molten metal was some of the metal freezes (hardens) on the cold surface of the stone mold. The thickness of this metal shell is a function of the length of time the molten metal was kept in the mold before being poured out.

        Ancient Ampullae

Because ampullae were hollow, they could be filled with something of significance at the religious site like holy water, soil near the site, dust on a crypt or blessed oil. The top of an ampullae could be folded over or crimped to keep the contents inside. I have a number of ampullae with their tops still sealed after hundreds of years and the contents still rattle inside. Ampullae generally have two rings or small handles cast near their top. An ampulla could be worn around a neck on a cord; it could be sewn onto clothing; it could be nailed to a wall in a building. And, like pilgrims’ badges, many were thrown into bodies of water. It is impossible to know how many pilgrims badges were made throughout Europe during the Middle Ages; however, I have read accounts of thousands of badges being sold at a single site during a single season. Over a couple of hundred years and dozens of sites, it is not unreasonable to image pilgrim badge production in the seven figure range. Besides coinage this is an example of early mass production.

The high point of pewter’s popularity was around 1700 in England, and England was considered the center of pewter production in Europe. During this period pewter items were as commonplace to the average person as items of aluminum, stainless steel or plastic are to us today. A wealthy house would have silver table and service ware; however, most people would have or aspire to have table service and all sorts of other items of pewter. So many everyday items for household use were made of pewter ranging from baby bottles to bed pans, snuffboxes to sandwich boxes, hot water bottles to medical syringes, and, of course all sorts of plates, bowls, cups, beakers, mugs, spoons, tea and coffee pots, and measures of all types. Then there is a full range of church pewter items. Add to that toys, whistles, buttons, money and tokens of all kinds.

During the 18th century in England and throughout Europe porcelain and other fine china wares as well as silver plate replaced pewter as tableware; however, English pewter makers continued to produce large quantities of pewter for their colonies. America pewter craftsmen during much of the 18th century remolded old and damaged pewter and made new pieces for their local customers. By the end of the 18th century, fashionable chinaware and silver plate replaced most pewter for table use. One specialized area of continued pewter use even into the 20th century was in taverns for the traditional serving of beer.

It is not that pewter was not manufactured during the 19th century; to the contrary, considerable quantities of pewter were manufactured. However, it was not made using the ‘traditional’ method of casting into molds. Rather, sheet pewter of high quality, called Britannia metal was fabricated by spinning on lathes or by stamping in presses. Pieces fabricated were on the order of tea services, coffee services, trays, flower vases, pitchers, candlesticks and similar decorative items. Much of this Britannia ware was silver plated. Collectors, generally, disregard this pewter and pieces from this era. Many collectors consider it sterile in design, mass produced and not ‘traditional’.

The Art Nouveau period produced a successful and currently high collectable range of pewter items. Most of this work was produced in Germany with England following. During much of the 20th century pewter production was a revisiting to antique style items. But it was produced with modern equipment, often of marginal quality. When people thought of pewter, they thought of ‘colonial-style’ pieces. Several old pewter manufacturing firms in Europe made a business of producing pewter from 18th century era molds.

Pewter is currently enjoying a revival with designers working for large manufacturers to produce items reflecting contemporary styles. Also, pewter is gaining popularity among independent designer-craftsmen who are using it in their art metal work.