Pewter

Pewter is one of the most valuable metals in common use, after platinum, gold, and silver.

You can usually find markings on the bottom of your item that indicate if it's pewter. Look for labels such as "Pewter" or "BM" (British Metal). Pewter tends to be darker, softer, and less shiny than silver. Unlike silver, pewter is less durable and more prone to bending and denting.

Please note: If you see markings like "PewterX", "Wilton", "Wilton Armetale", or "Stede", the item is actually cast aluminum, not pewter.

Another simple test is to see if a magnet sticks to the item. If it does, the item is made of steel or iron, not pewter.

Pewter is a malleable metal alloy. Traditionally it is made from 85-95% tin, mixed with approximately 5-10% antimony, 2% copper, bismuth. Currently, copper and antimony both act as hardeners. In the past, lead was used as a hardener. However, lead began to be removed from the production of the alloy in the early 20th century due to high levels of toxicity discovered in the metal. Subsequently, it was completely removed from pewter production in 1974.

People have been making pewter for a very long time. Examples of pewter artefacts can be found in museums and collections that date back to Ancient Egyptians, Romans, and Celts. Until the end of the 18th century, the only method of manufacturing pewter was by casting and the soldering of components. However, now pewter is often spun. Since the alloy is too soft for tools or weapons, there was no real Pewter Age like there was a Bronze and Iron Age. However, pewter has other qualities that make it ideal for making products such as jewellery and other items including eating utensils, tableware and candlesticks.