Early American pewter is noted for its simplicity of style.
The difficulty and expense of obtaining molds resulted in a slower stylistic
evolution than that of silver which did not require molds for its manufacture,
though the general design trends in silver were eventually reflected in pewter.
Because pewter was a far softer metal, a thicker construction was often used as
a means of increasing durability. Further, pewter's basically utilitarian
nature discouraged excessive ornamentation.
Near the end of the eighteenth century a new type of pewter
called britannia was introduced from England. Harder than regular pewter,
britannia was an alloy of tin, copper, and antimony but was without any lead.
It was easier and faster to manufacture, for it could either be more thinly
cast or it could be stamped or spun from sheets of the rolled metal. This also
meant that the style could respond to the dictates of fashion as quickly as
silver. In fact, britannia came to resemble silver, especially in brilliance
and shape, more than it resembled traditional pewter, with the notable
exception of price. It was exceedingly popular until about 1850 when the
process of electroplating was introduced whereby a thin coating of silver could
be applied to cover the britannia or other metal. Over the next twenty years
britannia makers and pewterers either gradually shifted to the manufacture of
silver plate or went out of business. This was due to the competition from the
ever-increasing popularity of porcelain and other pottery wares as well as the
finally overwhelming competition from silver plate.
Considering the amount of American pewter which once
existed, alarmingly little has survived to the present. The former advantage
that damaged or worn pewter could be melted down and recast has robbed us of a
complete view of the development of pewter in America. Also, during the War for
Independence many donated their pewter to be cast into musket balls. But the special allure of pewter was recognized
even as its popularity declined. In 1839 an old pewter beaker was the first
recorded object given to the New Hampshire Historical Society. And today we
continue to collect and honor works of this soft-luster metal which played such
an important role in the early history of this country