702 PEWTER AND THE REVIVAL OF ITS USE. 



this right fell almost into desuetude, and after the restoration the 

 company found that it is much easier to maintain a privilege than to 

 reimpose one when once practically abrogated. The right of search 

 was felt to be unsuited to the spirit of even that age, and the company 

 never succeeded in getting it legally recognized again. Possibly, as 

 has been suggested, the authorities were indisposed to bring the ques- 

 tion before the courts of law ; as, in the case of an adverse decision, 

 the right would definitely cease to exist, whereas by leaving the mat- 

 ter unsettled it might be once more established, should a favorable 

 opportunity arise. It is probable also that the practice which we 

 have seen had existed from early times, of admitting into the fellow- 

 ship of the guild members who were not connected with the craft, 

 became more and more common, until many of the influential so- 

 called " pewterers " had ceased to possess any real business interest 

 in the trade, with the inevitable result that the main object of the 

 existence of the company was neglected. 



Efforts, however, were made from time to time to revive the declin- 

 ing industry, but slowly and surely the products of the potteries ousted 

 the plates, dishes, and vessels of pewter, whilst the art of plating 

 inferior metals with silver displaced the old pewter dish covers, 

 cruets, salt cellars, drinking cups, and the like, until at last even in 

 the village inns and hostelries the electroplated tankards displaced 

 the pewter pot. This last fact is significant, since good judges of malt 

 liquor never lost the tradition that ale or stout was of better flavor 

 when drunk from what was called " its native pewter." Thus the 

 once flourishing craft of the pewterer degenerated to the production 

 of some few mere utilities, such as lavatory fittings, public house bar 

 appliances, and plumbers' requisites. Although exclusive reference 

 has been made to English pewter, we must not forget that the pew- 

 terers' craft embraced Scotland, notably Edinburgh, as demonstrated 

 by the " Tappit Hen " and " Christening Tankard,'' which examples 

 by the courtesy of Mr. Walter Churcher are, with others from his 

 collection, here for our inspection this evening. 



MARKS. 



Great nnmV)ers of old touches or makers' marks have come down 

 to us, but it is, unfortunately, the fact that no register of them exists, 

 and unless the name is mentioned they are, therefore, difficult to 

 identify. Much interesting information from the collector's pomi of 

 view has been written on the subject of marks, but it will suffice for 

 the purpose of this paper to say that no piece of pewter was allowed 

 to be sold without a mark, and that this rule extended to the pewter 

 mountings on stone jugs and tankards; and it is thought probable 

 that the crowned " Rose " mark was in some measure the official 

 " touch " of the Pewterers' Company, being one of their armorials, 



