What does our hallmarks mean? This emblem represents the manufacturer's initials or marks.  The ^.X^. was a widely used symbol of quality in the 17th and 18th Centuries in Europe which we have adopted to indicate the lead-free alloy.

History of Pewter   - The earliest known pewter was made in China 2,000 years ago; tin was used by the Egyptians and the metal is mentioned at least twice in the Bible. Romans used pewter for seals of office and their occupation of Britain had much to do with securing the English tin, copper and lead mines of Cornwall.  In 1290, Edward I had over 300 pewter dishes and platters - he seemed to have had no silver plates at all. Pewter utensils came into regular use by the nobility and the Church; books and literature often describe traveling artisans handcrafting and repairing pewter items from city to city.

During the Industrial Revolution, the large scale manufacturing of porcelain and the new habit of drinking warm beverages caused a dramatic reduction in pewter production.  Genuine pewter making had almost disappeared by the 20^th Century.

Today we are the heirs of a craft that is almost extinguished; we hope that you enjoy this secular art which we are offering to you.

Craft
Pewter can be either cast or spun. Cast pewter is never bent, it is cast into its final shape, and is therefore much stronger. Furthermore, cast pewter pieces can be made thicker wherever the stresses and strains of daily use demand; often this reinforcement appears in the form of a decorative molding round the belly of a jug or a bowl, or round the lip or the foot of a tankard, and is an attractive addition to the design. On the other hand, the designer of spun pewter objects is limited by the featureless sheet he has to work with.

Pewter Classic's cast pieces are entirely handmade and hand finished at all stages: the molten metal is cast into a bronze mold, it is then turned on a lathe to give finish and detail.  Next, accessories such as handles and spouts are carefully fitted to each body.  Finally, the polish brings real life to each piece.  Even the artisan's hallmarks are stamped from the opposite side of the body, just as it was done when the guild introduced these markings.  In our factory, design is the first and only determinant of the shape; every stage of production and the final product itself is personally checked for quality and perfection. 

Care - How do you care for Pewter? The answer depends to a large extent on the use to which it is put - whether for decoration, with only occasional handling, or for daily eating and drinking.

If only for decoration, nothing more than normal dusting with a dry cloth is necessary. Accumulated dust serves as the bridgehead for the acids contained in atmospheric pollution. We stress the dry cloth, because otherwise the minute droplets left by a damp cloth cause water spots which after a few weeks cannot be easily removed.

Pewter in daily use (please bear in mind that all our pewter is indeed designed for just that) should be washed just like your good porcelain or glass. If by hand, it must be carefully dried with a cloth to avoid water spots.  Pewter will dull over, or lose its shine after some time. In this case it should be cleaned with a normal brass polish, and the traces of this removed with alcohol and a clean cloth.  

Please note that pewter is a very soft metal, and will mark on contact with a hard object - such as knife, fork or spoon. On its very first day of use it begins the long process of patina and natural aging.  Most of our customers realize this, and do not expect pewter to keep its pristine brand-new look for ever. Some prefer to buy our Antique finish, which already begins its working life with an aged appearance. The real beauty of pewter only begins to appear after years of  use and loving care, and it is just these signs of use that our heirs will most appreciate in years to come when they show off their inherited pewter.

Cut flowers contain acids and will leave marks on pewter after a few days; we recommend vases used for cut flowers should be cleaned with brass polish before being put away or used again.  Care should be taken to clean off water marks before they become permanent.  Also, for those who live by the ocean,  sea mist should be cleaned off regularly.   Do not let your candles burn too low until they reach the metal: use a glass bobeche.

When all is said and done, pewter needs far less cleaning than silver, copper or brass. It hardly tarnishes at all. It doesn't form rust, or verdigris, and in clean dry air will keep its shine for months.

Cleaning tips

Pewter with an antique finish can be washed by hand in hot, sudsy water, rinsed, and dried thoroughly with a soft cloth. Do not over clean antique pewter. It is not meant to look like silver.

Modern, high polish, pewter can be maintained with a simple copper cleaner such as Brasso or Wright's copper cream and then polished with a soft cloth. Or, as with the antique finish, just washed by hand with soap and well dried with a soft cloth.

Other cleaning tips

Salt, Vinegar, and Flour. Dissolve 1 teaspoon salt in 1 cup white vinegar. Add enough flour to make a paste. Apply paste to pewter and let sit for 15 minutes to 1 hour. Rinse with warm water, and polish dry.

To clean and polish pewter with an antique or dull finish, rub in one direction with a paste of rottenstone and boiled linseed oil. When clean, wash in hot soapy water, rinse, dry and buff. For a lustrous satin finish, rub in one direction with a paste of whiting and denatured alcohol. When clean, wash, rinse, dry and buff.

There are many pewter look-a-likes on the market that are aluminum-based alloys these contain no tin and are not pewter products. So, check the label and care for them according to the manufacturer's instructions.