Pewter typically is around 92 percent tin by weight. Pewter gets its soft properties from its tin content; tin is a very soft and flexible metal. Tin is silvery white in appearance. It has a relatively low melting point of 449.38 degrees Fahrenheit. Small amounts of copper, antimony or bismuth are added to pewter to increase strength. A wide range of finishes, from satiny low luster to mirror bright, can be applied to pewter. Pewter is closely related to bronze: While pewter contains mostly tin and traces of copper, bronze contains mostly copper with traces of tin.
Pewter items were made in Colonial times essentially in one of three ways. Artisans made pewter items by turning them on lathes, hammering flat pieces of metal into shape, melting pewter and casting molds, or any combination of these methods. Pewter molds used to be made almost exclusively of bronze, but modern pewter molds are usually silicone rubber. Both early and modern pewtersmiths apply touchmarks to their work. Touchmarks are markings that identify the pewtersmith and the location where the work was done.
Pewter requires regular maintenance to maintain its shiny, bright, mirrorlike finish. Use multi-metal polishes to clean metals such as chrome, silver and brass to clean pewter items. These polishes are available at most local hardware or home-improvement stores. Pewter items with softer patinas should be washed with warm, soapy water. Never use abrasives to clean pewter, because they can damage pewter's patina. High temperatures can easily damage pewter; never clean pewter in high-temperature dishwashers or hot ovens.
Pewter first gained widespread use in the creation of mugs, utensils, plates and other dinnerware in Europe during the middle ages. In the 12th century, pewter was only in the homes of the wealthy. Early pewter contained lead; by the mid-1700s, health hazards linked with lead prompted the creation of Britannia metal, a lead-free type of pewter. Roman pewter is the oldest known pewter, it was composed of only tin and lead. Early Roman pewter items have been uncovered throughout England at various sites.