Pewter has been used in Britain since the Roman period but was increasingly utilised throughout the Medieval period and was at its peak during the 17th and 18th centuries. It was an attractive and versatile alloy made of mostly tin with small amounts of other metals combined. Common components added were copper, antimony or lead, which all increased the durability of the metal. In 1474, London pewterers were given a royal charter by King Edward IV, in an effort to ensure quality control during the rapid expansion of the industry. The guild established then, ‘The Worshipful Company of Pewterers’, is still active today, and pewter goods are still produced in Britain and sold around the world.
Contrary to the strictly-controlled hallmarks of gold and silver, pewter marks were less common and generally unregulated. Marks on pewter wares largely consisted of quality marks (also known as verification marks), labels, or the maker’s initials. In later centuries, it became a common practice for the owner, rather than the maker, to inscribe their name or even address onto pewter goods as a preventative measure against theft.
