pewter

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pewter,

any of a number of ductile, silver-white alloys consisting principally of tin. The properties vary with the percentage of tin and the nature of the added materials. Lead, when added, imparts a bluish tinge and increased malleability and tends to escape from the alloy in poisonous quantities if the percentage used is too large; antimony adds whiteness and hardness. Other metals including copper, bismuth, and zinc can also be added. Pewter is shaped by casting, hammering, or lathe spinning on a mold and is usually simply ornamented with rims, moldings, or engraving, although some Continental display ware, especially of the Renaissance period in France and Germany, shows intricate ornamentation. Pewter was early used in East Asia, and Roman pieces are extant. England was a pewter center from the Middle Ages; pewter was the chief tableware until it was superseded by china. America imported much English pewter in colonial times and from c.1700 made large quantities. The craft had virtually disappeared by 1850 but was revived in the 20th cent. in reproductions and in pieces of modern design. The collection and study of pewter are increasingly popular, although relatively little old pewter has been preserved because of its small intrinsic value and of the ease with which it may be melted and reused. Pieces made of britannia metalbritannia metal,
silvery-white alloy of tin with antimony, copper, and sometimes bismuth and zinc. It is very similar in appearance to pewter, but is harder. It is used widely for the manufacture of tableware.
..... Click the link for more information. are similar in appearance to pewter ware.

Bibliography

See L. L. Laughlin, Pewter in America (1969); and H. J. Kauffman, The American Pewterer (1970); C. F. Montgomery, A History of American Pewter (1973).

pewter

[′pyüd·ər]

(metallurgy)

An alloy that typically contained tin as the principal component and some antimony and copper; older produced pewter typically contains lead along with the other components.

pewter

a. any of various alloys containing tin (80--90 per cent), lead (10--20 per cent), and sometimes small amounts of other metals, such as copper and antimony

b. (as modifier): pewter ware

a. a bluish-grey colour

b. (as adjective): pewter tights

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

References in periodicals archive ?

Last year, he was awarded the Fellowship of the Smith in recognition of his contribution to the preservation and study of pewter and his gift to the Smith.

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Ritter and his business partner, chemist Carl Haegele, had perfected a galvanising technique of dipping their wares into a bath of silver, A WMF Art Nouveau green and glass and pewter claret circa 1905, the handle formed sinuous grape vines that lead eye to the fleur at the through which an electric current was passed.

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The 230 English-made pewter pieces - salvaged after nearly 500 years on the bed of the Caribbean - are claimed to outshine relics from the Mary Rose.