Pewter is an alloy of tin hardened with small amounts of other metals such as copper, lead, zinc, antimony and sometimes silver. The craft of pewtering started in antiquity - the earliest known item, a flask dating from c1450 BC, was found in Egypt.

Pewter is believed to have been introduced to Britain by the Romans, who exploited the main source of tin in Europe at the time, which was in Cornwall. The craft fell into decline after the Romans withdrew from Britain but it is thought that the Cistercian monks reintroduced it after the Norman Conquest in AD 1066.

Known as "the poor man's silver", production spread throughout the country with a wide range of mainly domestic goods being made.

In the year 1348 Articles were granted to the Worshipful Company of Pewterers in London, which enabled them to control the quality of pewter. Two grades of pewter were more...

18 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

Vintage pewter ink well stand central ink well with ceramic…

Pewter Ink Well Stand with Ceramic Liner

Vintage pewter ink well stand central ink well with ceramic liner, on broad based pewter base, height 8 cm.

Art Nouveau pewter ink well with glass inserts, width 21.5 cm.

Pewter Inkwell with Art Nouveau Glass Insets

Art Nouveau pewter ink well with glass inserts, width 21.5 cm.

Inkwell, impressive pewter in the form of a rams head mounted…

Ram's Head Inkwell with Pewter and Ceramic

Inkwell, impressive pewter in the form of a rams head mounted on wooden base with ceramic liner

An unusual pewter boars head form inkwell, length 20 cm,…

Pewter Boar Head Inkwell (Missing Insert)

An unusual pewter boars head form inkwell, length 20 cm, missing glass inkwell insert

English pewter Archibald Knox for Liberty & Co inkwell,…

Stylised Archibald Knox Inkwell for Liberty & Co

English pewter Archibald Knox for Liberty & Co inkwell, decorated with stylised foliage and 4 turquoise enamel cabochons centred by a hinged well, stamped number 0404 3

An Art Nouveau pewter inkwell with glass insert, signed Elias…

Elias Art Nouveau Pewter Inkwell with Glass Insert

An Art Nouveau pewter inkwell with glass insert, signed Elias 24 x 20 cm

Swedish Art Nouveau pewter ink well circa1890, with in relief…

Swedish Art Nouveau Pewter Inkwell with Fish and Frog

Swedish Art Nouveau pewter ink well circa1890, with in relief fish decorated base and frog finial and fitted glass insert, width 10.5 cm

German pewter football inkwell featuring mounted two figures,…

Mounted Figure Pewter Football Inkwell

German pewter football inkwell featuring mounted two figures, flanked by two hinged lidded wells. Stamped indistinctly to the base. Condition: good to fair, some wear consistant with age, apparent restoration. Length 34 cm

Antique pewter ship's ink well, 20 cm diameter approx

Antique Ship's Inkwell, 20 cm Diameter

Antique pewter ship's ink well, 20 cm diameter approx

A pewter owl inkwell

Pewter Owl Inkwell

A pewter owl inkwell

A Georgian pewter circular inkwell, circa 1820, 12 cm diameter,…

Georgian Pewter Inkwell, Salt, and Pepper Set

A Georgian pewter circular inkwell, circa 1820, 12 cm diameter, a circular salt and a pepper

A pewter circular school inkwell, circa 1820, 19 cm diam

1820 Pewter School Inkwell, 19cm Diameter

A pewter circular school inkwell, circa 1820, 19 cm diam

Two Georgian pewter school inkwells, circa 1820

Georgian Pewter School Inkwells (1820)

Two Georgian pewter school inkwells, circa 1820

Four antique pewter capstan inkwells, approx 22 cm diameter (4)

Set of 4 Antique Pewter Capstan Inkwells

Four antique pewter capstan inkwells, approx 22 cm diameter (4)

Antique pewter Capstan inkwell 20.3 cm diameter

Antique Capstan Pewter Inkwell - 20.3cm Diameter

Antique pewter Capstan inkwell 20.3 cm diameter

C 1900 Grotesque inkwell. Pewter, in the form of a crouching…

Crouching Imp Pewter Inkwell

C 1900 Grotesque inkwell. Pewter, in the form of a crouching imp, ears as pen holders. No insert, hinge A/F. Height 7 cm

C. 1900 grotesque bird inkwell. Three legged creature in pewter,…

Grotesque Three-Legged Bird Inkwell with Blue Porcelain Insert

C. 1900 grotesque bird inkwell. Three legged creature in pewter, with a large porcelain blue glazed captive insert. Height 11 cm

Liberty & Co. Inkwell and Identical other. Silver plated pewter…

Liberty & Co. Silver Plated Inkwell with Identical Twin

Liberty & Co. Inkwell and Identical other. Silver plated pewter inkwell, whiplash decoration, marked Liberty & Co. 0521 (major silver loss and pitting); and identical unbranded and unsilvered, marked English pewter 0521. Both have original glass inserts.…