PEWTER, an alloy, the basis of which is tin. It is mixed with another metal, generally lead, the proportions varying from six to four parts of the former to one of the latter. Occasionally brass or copper takes the place of the lead. The Rev. William Harrison, writing in the time of Queen Elizabeth, a period when pewter was much in favour, says, "I have been also informed that it con sisteth of a composition which bath thirty pounds of kettle brass to a thousand pounds of tin, whereunto they add three or four pounds of tin glass; but, as too much of this doth make the stuff brickle, so the more the brass be, the better is the pewter, and more profitable unto him that doth buy and purchase the same." Of its antiquity it is difficult to speak with certainty owing to the doubtful meaning of the terms employed. It is said to have been known to the ancient Chinese, and it is claimed to have been made by the Chaldaeans, Egyptians and Greeks. As to its pro duction by the Romans, mention is made by early writers, and all doubt has been removed by the analysis of some of the pewter of the Roman period found at Appleshaw, Hampshire, and now in the British Museum. From early days the rich mines of Corn wall were the repository which supplied the Continent with tin of fine quality : it is therefore only natural to find the use of pewter very common in England and the adjacent countries. The ordinary methods of working the metal were by casting, turning and ham mering. The most satisfactory pewter is marked by simplicity, a good outline and an absence of decoration.
The use of pewter followed three main lines : it was employed for church vessels, for domestic purposes, and in a less degree for what might be termed civic functions. In England pewter was already used in the service of the church in early mediaeval times. Chalices of pewter had replaced wooden vessels before the end of the 11th century; but, in 1175 the Council of Westminster pro scribed this metal and bishops were forbidden "to bless a chalice of pewter." From that time until the 15th century it was cus tomary to bury a pewter chalice with the priest. Various refer ences are found from which it may be inferred that in addition to their silver vessels many churches possessed a chalice of pewter or tin destined to be buried with the priest. Such chalices have
frequently been found on the opening of coffins. Cruets for the wine and water of the Mass were also of pewter. After the Ref ormation and throughout the 17th and i8th centuries a large number of pewter vessels are found, especially flagons. The canon of 1603 ordered that the wine should be "brought to the Com munion table in a clean and sweet standing pot or stoup of pewter if not of purer metal." Many such flagons still survive, dating from any time up till the end of the i8th century; they follow the shape of the contemporary silver vessels, the commonest being of cylindrical form with bold scroll handle and flat or domed lid. Alms dishes, patens and collecting plates are also found; a set of four beautiful dishes with enamelled centres dating from the 17th century, belong to the church of St. Katherine Cree in the City of London. Complete sets of communion vessels in pewter are rare.
The Elizabethan communion cup with its band of engraved orna ment is occasionally to be met with in pewter, a rather puzzling fact when it is remembered how common silver was at that period.
It seems clear that generally speaking chalices in pewter were merely a makeshift. The churches of Scotland are much richer in communion plate than those of England. At the time of the Reformation St. Giles's Church, Edinburgh, possessed a pair of pewter candlesticks for the high altar which were evidently con sidered of value. Till the end of the i8th century pewter was much in use, and more and finer vessels are found there than in England : they comprise communion vessels including the beaker form of cup in common use in the north-eastern parts of the country, basins for collecting alms, and a large number of com munion "tokens." On the Continent pewter had a much wider application in church vessels and furniture; while chalices and patens were ordered to be of silver at least in part, the cruets were frequently of pewter. This metal was also used for holy water vessels (benitiers), crosses and crucifixes, chrismatories and altar candlesticks. In England efforts are now being made to re vive the use of pewter for altar furniture; the difficulty formerly presented by the softness of the metal and its liability to denting seems likely to be overcome by a method of hardening.