Pewter

Pewter is an alloy, traditionally of anywhere between three and nine parts tin, and one part lead. Modern pewter mixes the tin with copper, antimony and/or bismuth, as opposed to lead. The metal is blue-grey in colour and generally has a dull finish.

A pewter is also the colloquial name for any pewter-made container, especially a pewter tankard. Tankards are certainly the most common pewter artifacts, although the metal is also used for plates, cutlery[?] and jewellery.

Use of pewter was common from the Middle Ages up until the various developments in glass-making during the 18th and 19th centuries. Mass-production of glass products has seen glass universally replacing pewter in day-to-day life.

Pewter artifacts continue to be produced, mainly as decorative or specialist items.