History of Pewter

The earliest known pewter vessels date to about 1500 B.C., but crafting of pewter really got its start sometime after that in England during the Roman Empire's occupation. While there, the Roman soldiers smelted and molded pewter for their use from tin mined locally in Cornwall, England. This marked the real beginning of the use of pewter on a limited scale prior to the "Dark Ages".
Following the "Dark Ages", the popularity of pewter continued to grow quickly, and soon became a common replacement for household implements made of clay, leather, and wood. With the increase in popularity came an increase in craftsmen, and soon thereafter, standards for the metal and its workmanship. By 1348, London had become the world’s largest manufacturer of pewter and saw fit to legislate some quality guidelines for pewter production within their realms. One such guideline was that men be required to complete apprenticeships under established masters and then prove their talent and financial means before independently practicing their craft. Additionally, England began regulating the trade of pewter through a royal charter granted in 1474, by King Edward the IV, which established England as the sole governing body of the trade of pewter vessels. The charter granted legal benefits as well as a "right of search" for poor quality wares throughout England and provided for punishments against offenders. These strict controls helped to establish and maintain the fine quality and reputation of British pewter. By the end of the 16th century, interest in pewter crafting could no longer be confined to England, and pewter guilds controlling quality had been established in Paris, Bruges, Ghent, Bordeaux and Marseilles. The public’s recognition of the fine quality of English pewter wares was strong and caused many pewterers to stamp their products “London” or "Englisches Zinn" to enhance sales appeal.
As time passed, the colonists in the Americas began to produce pewter of their own. At least 14 craftsmen were working in pewter before 1700 in the colonies. But their situation was different. Raw materials coming from England were heavily taxed and the new country did not have the luxury of time needed to smelt pewter. For some time, at least prior to the American Revolution, pewterers reworked damaged goods from Europe and exclaimed metal to form new items. The result was American pewter of similar style and quality to its original. Hundreds of tons of pewter were imported and crafted in this way during the 1770's and the availability of metal and its popularity with the public created a demand for new artisans and products similar to what had occurred in England years before. Noteworthy American pewter designs began to appear in the years between 1750-1850 by such masters as William Will, Robert Bonynge, Samuel Danforth, Peter Young and Parks Boyd. In addition to their growing pool of skilled craftsmen, English and American pewterers introduced an improved pewter alloy. Prior to 1800, the metal comprised of tin, copper, lead, zinc, and bismuth in various proportions, but craftsmen discovered that the addition of antimony and the exclusion of lead created a stronger safer alloy. Britannia pewter, as it was called, was harder and more brilliant; giving it a greater appeal to the public. Pewterers benefited from the new formula, too, for the stronger metal allowed craftsmen to shape forms on lathes, or by die stamping. The high luster and low price kept the popularity of pewter alive through some difficult and competitive times as glass, china and electroplated wares began to emerge and grow in popularity. Today, interest in pewter continues worldwide, as its worth and value have withstood the ultimate test of time. Although style and form vary greatly, the intrigue, beautiful color, and ease of care of pewter creates a desire for this noble metal that will no doubt continue for centuries to come.