The Rough Luxe Appeal of Pewter

The use of pewter can be traced back to the Egyptians and later the Romans. The use of pewter in Europe was first recorded in the 11th century. Originally, it was used mostly for religious purposes and by the wealthy. As it became more common amongst the masses, Middle Age Europe used pewter extensively until its popularity waned with the advancement of pottery and glass in the 18th and 19th centuries. Until the development of porcelain, pewter was the chief tableware.

In 1348, King Edward IV of England granted the first charter regulating the pewter industry to "The Worshipful Company of Pewterers." The guild had the authority to search throughout England to ensure the quality of pewter was upheld and to seize that which failed to meet their high standards. Despite abuses of power, this strict regulating insured that English pewter was regarded as the finest available.

The history of pewter in America dates to the early 1600s colonial period as it was brought over from England. Interestingly, new items could only be cast by melting down old ones due to the English ban on the export of tin and pewter is a tin-based metal alloy. In the late 18th century, with the appearance of Brittania metal and as people's taste changed to silverware, the demise of the pewter industry in America mirrored that of Europe's. Today, pewter is popular once again with fans of its rough luxe elegance.

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The Rough Luxe Appeal of Pewter

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