Hobbies And Interests
History
Greeks, Romans, Chinese and Egyptians all smelted organic metals to produce objects bearing culture-specific images on household objects, ceremonial vessels and works of metal art, but only the English grew a pewter industry that lasted centuries and left marks on history. By the fourteenth century, England was known internationally as the world's center for pewter-crafted art. The nation was so protective of its pewter industry, Parliament passed laws to regulate all aspects of its manufacture and distribution. Included in these statutes were prohibitions against exportation of the raw materials required to make pewter so the alloy remained a closely held secret. So stringently was the manufacture of pewter controlled by the government, King Edward IV appointed a "Mistery of Pewterers" in 1473 to do nothing but keep tabs on the burgeoning industry.
Geography
When pilgrims arrived on American shores, they brought their customs, values and as much pewter as possible. Fearful that the Colonies would usurp Britain's pewter industry, England prohibited the exportation of tin to America. Since there were no tin mines in the U.S., settlers had to be satisfied with the pewter products brought from home. Happily, the English underestimated the new nation's yearning for pewter. A cottage industry arose in the northeast that capitalized on the fragile nature of England's pewter products. When pieces became bent, scratched or dented, the damaged goods were sold to pewter studios to be melted down. An endless supply of raw material was now available to make new products. By 1640, at least five pewter shops were turning old pewter into new objects in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, the Connecticut Valley, New York and Pennsylvania.
Effects
Having circumvented stringent pewter-banning exportation laws imposed by England and launching an industry comprised of recycled material, the U.S. marched forward in pursuit of its own industry. Ingenuity and experimentation resulted in a wide variety of pewter formulas. By 1825, pewter was being mass-produced quickly and cheaply thanks to the availability of raw materials. Unfortunately, these studios were more concerned with quantity than quality. As a result, cheap grades of pewter used to make products resulted in a dramatic decline in quality. The new metals were so cheap, master pewterers abandoned the profession in droves. Artistic was out and utilitarian was in. Willing to sacrifice aesthetics for reasonable pricing, Americans disregarded the quality of domestic alloys and went on pewter binges. Walk into a typical home in the 1800s and you would find everything from whale oil-burning pewter lamps to trays, dishes, boxes, flatware, mugs, pitchers, creamers, sugar bowls and more.
Significance
Over time, the nation's fascination with pewter waxed and waned, but around the end of WWII, an unplanned event helped bring pewter into the spotlight again. Until this time, the New York Metropolitan Museum (in Manhattan) held the nation's most impressive collection of antique pewter, but in 1945, pewter collectors celebrated a landmark at New York's art museum of Brooklyn. Adding to the small collection of vintage pewter was an unexpected windfall. John W. Poole, the owner of what critics called the largest private collection of pewter in the nation, endowed his entire collection to the Brooklyn museum. Poole's generous donation pushed the museum's reputation skyward and it may still be one of the best places in the nation to see original pewter art fashioned by U.S. artisans.
Potential
Given the long and difficult journey pewter took to become part of American history, it is easy to see why the metal has a loyal fan base. What other metal has gone from prized object to cheap knockoff then returned as a legitimate heir to America's artistic past? Finally given the respect it deserves, antique pewter objects are enjoying a new level of respect and appreciation. From antique markets to Internet trading sites, authentic American pewter is discussed, evaluated, appraised and appreciated from coast to coast. Learn more about this modest metal alloy's arduous journey online (see Resources).