Brooke Slezak; text by Mimi Read
Pewter
Once known as "poor man's silver," pewter is again attracting collectors with its understated good looks. Like fog or a clouded
mirror, the metal has mysterious, quiet depths. An alloy of mostly tin with a little copper, antimony, and sometimes lead,
it is most often characterized by a muted, silvery-gray color and a mottled surface that is far less showy and shiny than
silver or gold. This plainness, however, is precisely what connoisseurs prize.
JUST THE FACTS
What to look for: Instances of advanced corrosion or repairs. Look for the presence of nicely struck marks. Pieces that are poorly marked,
unmarked, or in bad condition will always have nominal value. If you plan to use antique pewter or new imported pewter as
tableware, get a lead kit at a hardware store and test the object. Do not use any pewter for eating or drinking if it contains
lead.
Condition: Production was most widespread in England. Finer grades contain more than 90 percent tin, with small amounts of copper, antimony,
bismuth, and sometimes lead. Dust frequently to avoid corrosion; wash pewter in tap water with a mild soap. Don't worry too
much about polishing. "You can polish it and it looks just like silver. But in a matter of days it will turn gray, which is
an oxide layer on the tin that protects the surface from further corrosion," says David Blanchfield, conservator of objects
and metals at Colonial Williamsburg. "That is the natural state of pewter. It wants to be gray. It's very happy being gray."
Price range: $75 to $125,000 or more, depending on age, markings, provenance, condition, and design; more than $50,000 is rare.
