What kind of metal is pewter and is it worth anything?
Pewter is an alloy of tin and lead. While it doesn’t have the metallurgical value of silver or gold, it can be worth a significant sum depending on its age, condition, and manufacturer. Check for marks, clean your pewter well, and you can sell it through an antique dealer or on eBay, two of the easiest options.
How can you tell if pewter is real pewter?
Pewter was often melted down and used to make bullets. This makes finding genuine antique pewter a bit of a struggle. Antique dealers, auctioneers and collectors alike need to know the item they have is really pewter. Test for pewter by testing for lead or silver content. Purchase a lead testing kit from the local hardware store.
Why are there marks on pewter silver and gold?
British and Irish pewter is often unmarked. If marks are present, they can help in identifying when and where the item was made or used. Whereas the marks on silver and gold have always been tightly controlled, there was very little control over the marks used by pewterers.
Is there a central Register of pewter marks?
There was no central register of pewterers or their marks, so identifying the pewterers and the marks they used is only possible as a result of decades of research, a process that is still ongoing. The Pewter Society database of British & Irish makers and their marks is the most comprehensive source of information.
Pewter is an alloy of tin and lead. While it doesn’t have the metallurgical value of silver or gold, it can be worth a significant sum depending on its age, condition, and manufacturer. Check for marks, clean your pewter well, and you can sell it through an antique dealer or on eBay, two of the easiest options.
What kind of Marks can you find on pewter?
Beware of reproductions. Writing, labels, and marks on your pewter can help you identify your item’s collectibility and age. Marks you can find on pewter include touch marks, maker’s hallmarks, quality marks, labels, and catalogue numbers.
How can you tell the difference between silver and pewter?
Use a silver testing kit to distinguish pewter from silver. Carefully follow the instructions on the label. The kit includes nitric acid which will have a visible effect on pewter but not on silver. Use the acid sparingly and rinse away as soon as possible. Check the suspected pewter item for hallmarks and maker’s marks.
When did they start putting numbers on pewter?
Numbers are most common on pewter from the 19th and 20th centuries, when pewterers numbered their pieces to be part of a catalog. And, capacity marks like “pint” or “quart” became required by law in 1836, so anything with such marks was very likely made after 1836.
