Pewter is a remarkable metal. Having been sought after by humankind at least since a century or three before the sandals of Jesus himself were slapping the dusty paths of the Holy Land, pewter was at one time a financially valuable metal. Now, although pewter is no longer as costly as it once was, it is still loved around the globe for the same reasons it has always been: it is soft, malleable and perfect for carving, hammering, tapping, and shaping.
It is for these properties that the metal, that is around 90 percent tin and a total of 10 percent copper, antimony, and other metals, is widely used to make tableware, furniture accents, candle holders, lamps and other types of lighting, and mugs, cups, bowls and other dishes. In fact, until porcelain use was adopted by the masses in the 18th century, pewter was the main tableware material in Europe. The difference between the pewter used then and the pewter used today is that modern pewter is lead free.
These days, although we now have even more choices that just porcelain and pewter, we still love pewter oil lamps, candlesticks, jewelry, tankards and goblets, and pewter gifts for newlyweds, new parents, those celebrating anniversaries, and many other special occasions.
When you look at a carefully crafted pewter piece, it is easy to see why pewter items are still so special. The metal which is a dull, blue-gray color has a soft texture that holds shapes well and matches perfectly with old-timey stylings. When you give the gift of pewter you are giving a gift that has and will stand the test of time. It is expected that pewter gifts will indeed be handed down through the generations and loved by each one along its path of succession over the centuries.
Posted by Hampshire Pewter on 9/11/2024 to