Pewter (Shire Library)

In the seventeenth century there was scarcely a household in Britain that did not possess some items of pewter: bowls, plates, spoons, candlesticks, toys and buttons were some of the everyday objects made of this alloy of tin. Introduced to Britain by the Romans, the pewter trade became widespread in the middle ages, and English pewter became renowned for its high quality. The trade reached a peak in the seventeenth century. Competition from other materials brought a decline in the eighteenth century and the main centre of production moved from London to the Midlands. In the nineteenth century new techniques of manufacture were introduced in Sheffield, now the predominant centre of the trade in Britain. This volume traces the history of pewter manufacture in Britain, describing the alloys used, the methods of working and the objects produced. Reference is also made to the craft in other countries and there is advice for collectors.