| At the dawn of civilization, man discovered that | | | | century. Pewter craftsmen in the Middle Ages |
| characteristics of familiar base metals could be | | | | developed many different grades of pewter, of |
| changed by combining them. In correct | | | | which three were: |
| proportions, the metals compliment each other | | | | Fine Grade had between 95 and 99 percent tin |
| and form an alloy. Along with bronze, pewter was | | | | and 5 to 1 percent copper. This grade of pewter |
| one of the first alloys known to humankind. | | | | was very shiny, and was used to make eating |
| Pewter is an alloy of primarily tin and copper, with | | | | and drinking utensils for nobility and the upper |
| other metals such as antimony, bismuth and lead. | | | | classes. Trifle Grade was usually 92 percent tin, 1 |
| Pewter was known in ancient China, Egypt, | | | | to 6 percent copper and up to 4 percent lead. It |
| Greece and Rome. The oldest known pewter | | | | was also used to make eating and drinking |
| item has been dated to 1500 B.C.E. and was found | | | | utensils, but was not as shiny. |
| in Egypt. In ancient times it was an alloy of 70% | | | | Lay Grade could contain up to 15 percent lead and |
| tin and 30% lead, and this high concentration of | | | | was not used for eating or drinking utensils. It |
| lead caused lead poisoning when the alloy was | | | | was used for candlesticks, basins, and other |
| used to make eating and drinking utensils. The | | | | items. There are relatively few existing examples |
| lead would leach out, especially if acidic food or | | | | of early pewter ware because the metal was so |
| drink came in contact with the alloy. Modern | | | | easy to melt down into new items. |
| pewter alloys no longer use lead in them due to | | | | There has been a modern resurgence in the use |
| lead poisoning dangers, and consist of tin, copper, | | | | of pewter. By casting, spinning on a lathe, |
| bismuth or antimony. Pewter is a shiny metal, and | | | | pounding into shape and other means, pewter is |
| has been called 'poor man's silver'. As it is highly | | | | used for a variety of items. The relative softness |
| malleable with a relatively low melting point | | | | and low melting point of the metal lends it well to |
| (approximately 460 degrees F) it has been used | | | | highly detailed figurines. Drinking steins are still |
| for many items. Plates, drinking mugs, steins, | | | | being made that use pewter for the decorative |
| flatware, candlesticks, and for jewelry. Due to the | | | | lids, and jewelry of all types are cast from it. |
| softness of the metal, pewter is not suitable for | | | | Given time, pewter will eventually oxidize and |
| making tools. | | | | develop a satiny gray patina that can either be |
| The use of pewter had its roots in Europe about | | | | polished off or left on. 'Poor Man's Silver' remains |
| the 11th century. Pewter crafting in England grew | | | | a very useful and attractive alloy over 4,500 |
| especially skilled in the Middle Ages, and the | | | | years since it was first discovered. |
| metal's popularity continued until the late 19th | | | | |