The A. T. Isher Pewter Bequest at Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum

This booklet starts by telling us a little about Albert Tavender Isher and his antiques business. He had a close relationship with the museum and his bequest included treen, books, furniture, glass and other metalwork as well as the pewterware detailed here.

The late Kenneth Bradshaw of the Pewter Society catalogued his entire pewter collection including those other pieces of pewter which were sold off by auction.

The book has a three page introduction to the collection and is then filled for most of the remaining  22 pages with illustrations and descriptions of a very rare and fine collection of mostly English pewter. There are exceptionally fine pieces in this collection that today’s collector would struggle to find and if found would need to pay dearly for.

The illustration shown below is a two page section and shows candlesticks, chosen as an illustration at random largely because that is where the book opened most easily.

Thus the reader can also expect to see Flat lidded and wriggleworked tankards, James l and Charles l and Charles ll Church flagons, chalices, beakers, cups and mugs, porringers, salts, spoons, and plates (sadware). The descriptions are succinct and clear.

Finishing with a Bibliography this is a most useful small pocket size book.

Available to buy now from the society

The A. T. Isher Pewter Bequest at Cheltenham Art Gallery & Museum is available from the Pewter Society at a reduced price of £3 (it was selling for £6 but the Pewter Society has a large stock) plus £1.35 for first class post and packing within the UK ( total £4.35– it is good value for any collector!

AT Isher in his Bennington Street workshop c.1973 (Image courtsey of David Bannister)

Individual prices will be quoted for customers outside the UK. Simply it will be the actual postage plus 27 pence for the protective envelope.

To buy this booklet contact – publications@pewtersociety.org