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History
Pewter has been a common metal for household goods since the Bronze Age 5,000 years ago. The Romans used pewter to a considerable extent, and their pewter was a combination of tin with a small percentage of copper and a significant portion of lead. The lead makes it darken to its characteristic deep silver shade. Lead also made pewter more malleable, so that dents and scratches could easily be repaired. Because of the lead, antique pewter pieces should not be used for food or beverages.
Types
Pewter is a popular substance for household goods like plates, bowls, goblets, spoons and candlesticks. Pewter is a tin-based alloy that can be cast, cut, formed, fused or spun. Its burnished silver color and classic shapes lend it to country and colonial decorating.
Modern Pewter
Modern pewter's formula, called "Crown pewter," was developed in Great Britain during the late 18th century in response to the problems of lead poisoning. Pewter used for modern food vessels and containers must be lead-free and contain 92 percent tin, 6.7 percent antimony, and 1.2 percent copper, as required by both U. S. government regulations and the American Pewter Guild.
Identification
Identifying antique pewter is simple, given its darker luster due to the lead content. Many antique pieces from the late 18th and 19th centuries do not contain lead, but older pieces from the 17th century do contain lead and are not safe for food or beverages. Surprisingly few pewter pieces survive from early American and British history, simply because pewter is prone to dents and scratches. Also, during the Revolutionary War and French and Indian Wars, pewter was melted down to produce musket balls. For this reason, antique pewter is scarce.
Cleaning
Modern pewter can be washed by hand in hot, sudsy water, rinsed and dried thoroughly with a soft cloth. 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 clean warm water, and polish dry. Do not overclean antique pewter. It is not meant to look like silver.