Enquiry

Dear Team. I recently discovered this tankard at my grandparents’ house clearance. It is 5 inches tall to the dome on the lid. It has a religious scene inside the bottom.  It is also very heavy.  My grandparents were Welsh, but I understand we had seafarers in our ancestry going back 150 years or so. I would be very interested if you could help identify how old it is. It fascinates me. 

Thank you

Answer from the enquiry team

Thanks for your enquiry 15 June about the stunning early pewter tankard.This is not English but from Germany as it carries the town mark of Kitzingen in Bavaria on the handle.The maker has not yet been identified. Perhaps dating from the 17th century? With your permission we would like to retain the images on our German database?

I hope you enjoy this rare find.

The assessment below is based on the best information available to us at present, but we cannot guarantee its accuracy as we have not inspected the item, and our knowledge of pewter and pewterers is constantly expanding.  It is for your personal information only and any information given cannot be used in connection with the sale or offer for sale of any item about which the information is solicited.

Whilst our service is free, the database we use to answer your query costs us a considerable amount of money a year to run.  If you would like to make a small donation towards this cost (preferably in pounds sterling), you can do so via PayPal to treasurer@pewtersociety.org and we'll be very grateful!

We were pleased to receive your enquiry.  We welcome new members and if you would like to join our Society, full details can be found on our website: www.pewtersociety.org .  We post some enquiries anonymously in the "recent enquires" section of our website, and we hope you won't mind if we select yours for this.

ENQUIRY

Good afternoon 

While diving I found this pewter bowl

It has a lovely strike on the base that says 

Made in London

The inside of the strike shows a Tudor Rose with a crown above it

Is there any chance you can let me know any information that would help date it?

It’s heavy and in reasonable condition 

I’m hoping to restore it without going too far

Any suggestions?

Answer from the enquiry team

Thanks for your enquiry 15 June about the pewter bowl found whilst diving.

The distinctive crowned rose in an oval outline suggests that it was made by Thomas Swanson working 1753 to1783 at 87 Basinghall Street, London.

I hope you enjoy your find.

The assessment above is based on the best information available to us at present, but we cannot guarantee its accuracy as we have not inspected the item, and our knowledge of pewter and pewterers is constantly expanding.  It is for your personal information only and any information given cannot be used in connection with the sale or offer for sale of any item about which the information is solicited.

Whilst our service is free, the database we use to answer your query costs us a considerable amount of money a year to run.  If you would like to make a small donation towards this cost (preferably in pounds sterling), you can do so via PayPal to treasurer@pewtersociety.org and we'll be very grateful!

We were pleased to receive your enquiry.  We welcome new members and if you would like to join our Society, full details can be found on our website: www.pewtersociety.org .  We post some enquiries anonymously in the "recent enquires" section of our website, and we hope you won't mind if we select yours for this.

Enquiry

Dear Sir or Madam:

Hello Pewter Society, 

I am seeking the origin of this spoon! 

It was discovered by myself and my sisters in my late mother's home - our family home -  in Birmingham UK. None of us remember it at all so we have no back story for it. 

The probability is that it belonged to our great grandmother as there are other kitchen items that were hers.

The spoon is about the size of a standard teaspoon at approximately 13cm in length. 

The bowl of the spoon is ladle style and approximately 4cm in diameter. 

On the back there are 5 makers marks indented vertically down the handle section.

The top mark appears to be a crown shape with the initials WB inside. 

The next mark looks to be a shield shape with EP inside. I think this may refer to the item having been electroplated. 

The third/middle mark is an unknown symbol in a sort of oval shape. It looks a little like a snowman to me! 

The fourth symbol is an inverted teardrop with another unknown symbol looking a bit like a tall anvil. 

The fifth/lowest symbol is a diamond shape with a capital letter B. This may be a designation for Birmingham and there is high probability this spoon was made in Birmingham as ourselves, and our ancestry for the past 150 years at least, were/are Birmingham based. Several of our ancestors - roughly 3 or 4 generations back - worked within the Jewellery Quarter so this spoon may have arrived in our family via one of them. 

I'm uncertain exactly what the spoon was used for although it does look like it would serve a very generous portion of marmalade! I really like its curved handle shape and its size so I would like to know more about its origins. 

I hope the attached photographs will assist with unravelling its mystery!

Many thanks for any information you can find. 

Birmingham UK

Answer from the enquiry team

Thanks for your enquiry 11 June about the pewter ladle.

This is made from Britannia metal which is a lead-free form of pewter often electroplated with silver.

It was made by William Page who was active in Birmingham from 1829 and as an electroplater from 1834 operating from Cattle's Grove, Nechell's Green and Curzon Street.

In 1880 the business was active at Cranemore St, Cattle's Grove and 55 Albion St, Birmingham where your ladle most likely comes from.

I hope you continue to enjoy this part of your family's story.

The assessment above is based on the best information available to us at present, but we cannot guarantee its accuracy as we have not inspected the item, and our knowledge of pewter and pewterers is constantly expanding.  It is for your personal information only and any information given cannot be used in connection with the sale or offer for sale of any item about which the information is solicited.

 Whilst our service is free, the database we use to answer your query costs us a considerable amount of money a year to run.  If you would like to make a small donation towards this cost (preferably in pounds sterling), you can do so via PayPal to treasurer@pewtersociety.org and we'll be very grateful!

We were pleased to receive your enquiry.  We welcome new members and if you would like to join our Society, full details can be found on our website: www.pewtersociety.org .  We post some enquiries anonymously in the "recent enquires" section of our website, and we hope you won't mind if we select yours for this.

ENQUIRY

Hello,

I was hoping that you might be able to tell me a little more about my pewter tankard.

It was given to me as a gift when I was about 16 or 17 years old in 1986/7, and I never really looked into it.  My girlfriend at the time saw it and it had my initials on  it  (from a previous owner).

I have managed to identify the makers mark at the bottom and believe it says Watts 256 Euston Road.  The re is a stamp near the top on the outside close to the handle which is a diamond shape with a crown over the number 29 and V on the left and R on the right.  It also says PINT.

There is some engraving on the bottom, but I can’t read it.

I have attached some photos.

Many thanks for any information that you can find!

Answer from the enquiry team

Thanks for your enquiry 7 June about the Imperial pint capacity pewter mug.

This has seen service in public houses as it carries the verification marks put on by the Excise Inspector when he checked the capacity in use to ensure that the publican was not giving short measure. It was checked in Queen Victoria's reign in the County of Middlesex between 1879 and 1901. 

It was made by E A Watts & Co working at 256 Euston Road, London between 1878 and 1899.

The engraving on the outer base is from a previous owner. Often publicans put their names on the mugs to deter pilfering. The pub is George,  Landlord John Auckland, Market Place, East Finchley

I hope you continue to value this gift.

The assessment above is based on the best information available to us at present, but we cannot guarantee its accuracy as we have not inspected the item, and our knowledge of pewter and pewterers is constantly expanding.  It is for your personal information only and any information given cannot be used in connection with the sale or offer for sale of any item about which the information is solicited.

Whilst our service is free, the database we use to answer your query costs us a considerable amount of money a year to run.  If you would like to make a small donation towards this cost (preferably in pounds sterling), you can do so via PayPal to treasurer@pewtersociety.org and we'll be very grateful!

We were pleased to receive your enquiry.  We welcome new members and if you would like to join our Society, full details can be found on our website: www.pewtersociety.org .  We post some enquiries anonymously in the "recent enquires" section of our website, and we hope you won't mind if we select yours for this.

ENQUIRY

Hi folks 

I have pulled a pewter spoon from the Thames foreshore with more marks then usual and can't seem to find any information on any of it online not that I know what I'm looking at I’m hoping to trouble you for a marks identification  happy to pay for the expertise 

Thanks for your enquiry 1 June about the pewter spoon: what a lovely find and in such good condition!

This trifid spoon was made by John Shorey I who was active 1683 to 1722 and in 1695 was living in the Parish of All Hallows, London Wall.

The hallmarks on the stem include a chevron with strake of tin being the Worshipful Company of Pewterers arms/chevron/lion face/initials IS with star.

There are previous owner's initials crowned IA to the end of the stem and his touch (somewhat detrited) which contains in a shield a bird on a flower with initials IS and 83. 

This touch was first struck on the London Touch Plate as LTP390.

I hope you enjoy your find.

The assessment above is based on the best information available to us at present, but we cannot guarantee its accuracy as we have not inspected the item, and our knowledge of pewter and pewterers is constantly expanding.  It is for your personal information only and any information given cannot be used in connection with the sale or offer for sale of any item about which the information is solicited.

Whilst our service is free, the database we use to answer your query costs us a considerable amount of money a year to run.  If you would like to make a small donation towards this cost (preferably in pounds sterling), you can do so via PayPal to treasurer@pewtersociety.org and we'll be very grateful!

We were pleased to receive your enquiry.  We welcome new members and if you would like to join our Society, full details can be found on our website: www.pewtersociety.org .  We post some enquiries anonymously in the "recent enquires" section of our website, and we hope you won't mind if we select yours for this.

ENQUIRY

Hello there,
I hope it’s ok to message you, I found your details online.

I love old art nouveau items. I also love Charles Rennie Mackintosh things.

I purchased online a number of little pewter items that were supposedly from 1900 to 1920. The seller used very flowery language calling them “ a piece of Scottish arts and crafts history”

Would it be possible to cast an eye over the stamps on them? I think they’re much later
( I am absolutely not an expert hence my request)

I’ll enclose a few pictures.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, I appreciate it.

Answer from the enquiry team

Thanks for your enquiry 25 May about your recent purchases.

Your suspicions are quite right as these are not from the period 1900 -1920. In those times, Liberty & Co might have included an English Pewter label but not Made in UK. The pristine condition of the surface supports this view.

Nevertheless, I hope you can still value them and their attractive style.

The assessment above is based on the best information available to us at present, but we cannot guarantee its accuracy as we have not inspected the item, and our knowledge of pewter and pewterers is constantly expanding.  It is for your personal information only and any information given cannot be used in connection with the sale or offer for sale of any item about which the information is solicited.

Whilst our service is free, the database we use to answer your query costs us a considerable amount of money a year to run.  If you would like to make a small donation towards this cost (preferably in pounds sterling), you can do so via PayPal to treasurer@pewtersociety.org and we'll be very grateful!

We were pleased to receive your enquiry.  We welcome new members and if you would like to join our Society, full details can be found on our website: www.pewtersociety.org .  We post some enquiries anonymously in the "recent enquires" section of our website, and we hope you won't mind if we select yours for this.