What is Pewter? It is an alloy of various metals of which tin is the largest proportion. Like gold and silver, tin is
too soft to be used by itself. It must be mixed with another substance for strength. In the old days, lead was the
commonest metal used for this, though copper, antimony and bismuth have been found in old pieces.
Our pewter contains no lead whatsoever; our alloy consists of 94% tin,
6% copper and antimony.
Can you use Pewter? Pewter is made, and is meant, for everyday use! Besides, pewter doesn't break or chip.
As for silver, it is not recommended to put pewter in the dishwashing
machine.What is the real color of Pewter? Shiny bright, like silver.
Since most old pewter was not properly cared for over the centuries, it
is erroneously believed that gray is the proper color for pewter. In the
17th and 18th century, when pewter was in everyday use, housewives took
pride in keeping their pewter bright (maybe with the intention of
misleading their guests into thinking they were rich enough to afford
silver).
How does Pewter stand up to heat? It begins to weaken at 180oC and melts at
232oC. It cannot therefore be
placed directly on the fire nor in the oven. Candles should not be allowed to go on burning once the flame has reached the lip of the
socket. Do not use in microwave ovens.
Does Pewter keep the food warm, or the beer cold? Frankly, no! Tin is an excellent conductor of heat, and
as a result, hot food or iced drinks will quickly conform to room temperature.
Does Pewter affect the taste of its contents? No, since tin, the major component of our pewter, is inert.
Pewter is perfectly suitable for serving food, but not for storage.
Pewter dollars & senses: By appearance, pewter could only be compared to silver. Silver-plate is mostly
mass produced, while our pieces are hand made at every stage. Now, if we compare our
pewter with solid silver, there is no price comparison... for achieving the same elegance, tradition and beauty.
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