Scottish Pewter
The origin of pewter goes back to the dark ages in Europe. Early pewter was a mixture of tin and lead, in some cases up to 30%, which of course is now known not to be safe. Modern pewter is usually an alloy of tin, antimony and copper.
The creation of crafts guilds such as the 'Worshipful Company of Pewterers of London began in the 14th Century
and were designed to protect the trade secrets of the craftsmen and to maintain a high standard of product.
Pewterware is created either by 'spinning' or 'casting'. Spun pewter items start off as a flat disk, which is fastened to a wooden or metal master or 'chuck'. This assembly is clamped into a lathe and a turning tool is used to form the spinning disk over the chuck to form the shape. Cast pewter is made by traditional casting techniques using a bronze mould.