What is pewter?
Pewter alloy is made of tin, bismuth, antimony, and some- times copper or silver, depending on the alloy your artisan has selected for a specific item. Colonial pewter often contained lead to give it strength. Lead causes old pewter to turn it’s characteristic dark gray color. Lead free pewter softens to a very light gray patina. Village Pewter, LLC uses a lead free pewter alloy of tin, antimony and copper, that meets the requirements of the newly enacted Consumer Protection Safety Improvement Act of 2008. It is completely food safe. It is always wise to ask your pewtersmith what alloy was used to make your pewter product. How is pewter made? In Colonial America, artisans made pewter articles in three ways; by melting pewter alloy and casting it in molds, by hammering a flat piece of metal into a shape, and by turning on a lathe. A pewtersmith might have also combined the methods, to suit the type of piece or the result desired. The pewter artisan made his own molds and was, therefore,
Pewter alloy is made of tin, bismuth, antimony, and some- times copper or silver, depending on the alloy your artisan has selected for a specific item. Colonial pewter often contained lead to give it strength. Lead causes old pewter to turn it’s characteristic dark gray color. Lead free pewter softens to a very light gray patina. Today, pewter contains no lead. It is completely food safe. Be sure to ask your pewtersmith what alloy is used to make your product. How is pewter made? In Colonial America, artisans made pewter articles in three ways; by melting pewter alloy and casting it in molds, by hammering a flat piece of metal into a shape, and by turning on a lathe. A pewtersmith might have also combined the methods, to suit the type of piece or the result desired. The pewter artisan made his own molds and was, therefore, considered an artist rather than a mechanic giving form to designs of others. The pewtersmith’s mold repeats the perfection or shortcomings of the original form. Tod
Pewter is an alloy or mixture of metals that can contain various percentages of tin, lead, antimony, bismuth, copper or silver. The best pewter or “Fine Pewter” contains at least 92% tin and no lead. Antimony and bismuth add varying degrees of strength and/or hardness. It is sad to note that some low grade pewters contain as much as 80% lead. These are to be avoided, especially if the pewter will be used in contact with food or beverages. Heritage PewterTM is high grade “Fine Pewter” which is lead-free. All of the products in this site are fine pewter.
Danforth pewter is made of the finest lead-free alloy of tin, copper and antimony. The tin imparts a fine sheen and malleability. Over time and with use, your pewter will develop a wonderful patina. Due to the high quality of pewter alloy we use, Danforth pewter contains no lead and therefore is safe for food and drink, meeting or exceeding FDA food safety standards. Bon Appetit! • Pewter will last for generations if cared for properly. • Many collectors feel that pewter benefits from handling as it develops a distinctive, warm patina the more it is used. • Though certain conditions will cause pewter to oxidize and darken, pewter does not tarnish like silver and copper. Pewter can be cleaned with warm soapy water, rinsed, then towel dried with a soft cloth. Do not wash pewter in an automatic dishwasher as the heat and detergent can be harmful to the piece. • There are various pewter cleaners and polishes available to maintain your pewter. Danforth recommends and sells Mish pewter clean
Pewter is composed of several gray alloys of Tin with a small amount of Copper to harden it. It is malleable and does not tarnish. Our figurines are made from “lead free” Pewter which can be classified as American Fine Pewter. The fact that there is no lead gives the figurines a finer appearance and actually adds to the quality of each piece. All of the fine designs are first carved in wax by the artist, then cast in Bronze. The figurines are then reproduced in fine Pewter and finished by hand by skilled craftsmen. The finishing touch for many of the figurines is the addition of Austrian Crystal Gems and Prisms which add light and color.
