PEWTER AND THE REVIVAL OF ITS USE. 709 



porcelain ciii^s aiul dishes are obtainabh^ at e(|iial or less cost. A 

 recent aiitlior tells us. indeed, that " it is a o-ood thiii^L:' to rub pewter 

 over with a raii' satui'ated with vaseline." but surely tlie process 

 appeals to the j^alate as the reverse of ai)p(>tizin<>\ and is calcuIat(Ml 

 further to emphasize the housewife's objection to })ewter for culin- 

 ary and table use. Then, too, besides the wares made for the service 

 of food and other })urposes requiring easy and })erfect cleansing 

 there is a quite considerable range of other things once made in 

 pewter, which an altered state of conditions has rendered useless. 

 These also are undesirable for the modern pewterer to reproduce. 

 The author just quoted writes, however, in reference to souie of 

 them: ''Among other instances of articles in pewter wliich have 

 now unfortunately ceased to be made are snuffboxes, candle boxes, 

 table fountains, and lavabos. oi- hanging washstands." Now, while 

 sympathizing with collectors in regretting the disapi)earance of the 

 good work of bygone days, it would be a more hclpfid attitude for 

 the manufactur(M' to try to substitute useful objects for the useless 

 ones. Instead of table fountains and candle boxes one might sug- 

 gest the production of electroliers, jardinieres, and presentation 

 caskets, challenge cups, card trays, and a host of et Ccneteras of tlu^ 

 flower vase order. AVe have, indeed, an example of how a similar 

 evolution was brought about by the Japanese metal workers, who, 

 when they found that sword hilts and their inlaying were no longer 

 required, transferred their attention to the invention of the chea[) 

 and clever antimony ware with Avhich they have since* flooded the 

 European n.iarkets. And this antimony ware, be it rememlxMvd. is a 

 branch of the pewterer's trade. 



And now we come to the two (juestions which I have been working 

 up to, i. e.. (i) ai-e the pewter wares now being made c(|ual in (jualily 

 and design to the average work of the best periods of l)Vgone days' 

 and (ii) what are the future prospects of pewter as an art industry^ 



The latest critic on this subject, the writer just referred to, has 

 not one good word for luodern pewter. He says: 



In striving to nrrivo at " ni't " pewter tlie nianufaetni'ers have i)ro(lne(^il the 

 wrong Ivind of alloy. It is lar too erude and white, and lias a nieretrieious 

 look, besides the fatal fanlt of almost looking like silver or eleetroplate. 

 Anotlier fault is that it is far too hriltle and hard. There is no luee feeling 

 in it; it is, unlike old pewtor. hard and rejinlsive to the touch. Again. * * * 

 satisfactory designs fur pewler can nut lie exteni])ori/,e(l by any designer. Imw- 

 ever cunning he nuiy be al calching the public taste, so called, with a gaudy 

 cretonne or a meaningless wall )>aper. 



Happily, it is needless to add, there are many who hold moi-e hope- 

 ful views on this subject, who consider- a distinct advance has been 

 made alread}', and who believe that there is good promise for the 

 future. 



