In Germany and Switzerland are found the enormous cups and flagons which formed the treasures of local trade guilds and similar institutions. Standing cups are as much as three feet in height, and one at least is known approaching four feet. They were frequently surmounted by a figure representing the trade to which they belonged, and a number of labels or medallions hanging from the upper part recorded the names of masters of the guild. Flag ons were of capacious dimensions. Perhaps the place of honour may be accorded to an unusually noble example in the Victoria and Albert museum, London, of rather more than 20 in. in height. Round the upper and lower part of the body is a band of plaques of graceful emblematical figures taken from the designs of the well-known German ornamentist, Peter Flotner of Nuremberg. This flagon is Swiss work and dates from the i6th century. In recent years pewter has been produced in Germany at Nurem berg, Crefeld and Munich.
In America pewter was much used in the early colonial house holds. Some is found dating from the 17th century; but the
period which marked its greatest production was the 1 oo years between 175o and 185o. Boston appears to have been a main centre of manufacture. Every kind of utensil was made which was in any way requisite for domestic purposes. Some few pieces were produced for church use. Its appearance at a considerably later period than in Europe, and its persistence when other materials were available, prove its great popularity and the hold that it retained upon American taste long after it had ceased to interest the European.
In China, Korea and Japan the manufacture of pewter was known over i,000 years ago and has continued until the present day. Much was produced in the 17th and i8th centuries, the shapes following those of bronze and porcelain; engraving was frequently added as an enrichment. Pewter was used and still is for rim-mounts of boxes and for decorative inlay. (See also