Pewter
2 1/2" x 4 1/2" x 3"
Massachusetts

Pewter is a metal alloy, generally between 85 and 99 percent tin, with the remainder being copper and antimony. In 1610 it made its first American appearance in Jamestown, Virginia and at least five pewterers were active in the Massachusetts Bay Colony by 1640. While the very poor used wooden utensils, most colonialists who could afford it used pewter, although pewter vessels cost only about one-tenth the price of silver, they were still fairly expensive. However, not much early pewter exists today as during the Revolutionary War much of the pewter was melted down to be cast into musket balls. The habit of giving newborn babies utensils and cups began in the 1800’s, generally in silver, hence the expression “Born with a silver spoon in his/her mouth”. Somehow, I find pewter more attractive than silver, as silver has become increasingly common. The form of this pewter cup is taken directly from a colonial original, the finish is called a butler finish, it falls somewhere between a shinny and spun look. I thought this was good to hide tiny fingerprints and damages that come with cups being thrown. Made by a pewter maker on Cape Cod.