PEWTER AND THE REVIVAL OF ITS USE." 



By AkTIIIR LaSKNIJY r.IliKUTY. 



Taking first a wide survey of the whole subject, it will be remem- 

 bered that the advanrages of using an alloy in (he working of metals 

 appear to have been known and appreciated at a most remote period 

 m the history of the liuman race, and that not only does such process 

 coml)ine the different excellencies of the tAVo or more metals used, but 

 the cohesion and consequent strength of the alloy is generally found 

 greater than either of the metals considered separately, instead of, as 

 might be supposed, resulting in the exact mean strength of the two or 

 more metals employed. It is considered most probable, too, I believe, 

 that the first discovery of metals was due to the accidental presence 

 of ore in the stones used in primitive hearths and fireplaces, and that, 

 consequently, the more readily fusible metals, such as copper, tin. 

 and lead, Avere those first known, and of these, copper being the most 

 widely diffused, is supposed to be the first metal used by man. Cop- 

 per is, however, rather difficult to cast, and it must have been one of 

 the most notable discoveries made by our primeval forefathers, that 

 by a small admixture of tin an alloy was produced that could be 

 easily cast, was capable of being finished to a smooth surface with 

 sandstone or a file, and was very much harder than the original cop- 

 per itself. Weapons and instruments made of this alloy — that is to 

 say, of bronze — are, therefore, as is well known, characteristic of the 

 early stages of civilization — the termination of the stone age showing 

 occasional evidence of the use of pure copper. In later, as well as 

 probably in prehistoric times, large quantities of the red metal coj:)])er 

 were obtained from Cyprus (whence is probably due its modern 

 name). AA^iile almost as far back as 4000 B. C, according to Mi". 

 Flinders Petrie, the Egyptians are said to have worked copper mines 

 in the peninsula of Sinai for the production of bronze. But the 

 question, I believe, is still an open one as to where the ancients de- 

 rived their supplies of tin. Tin, however, is mentioned among the 



a Address before the Applied Art Section of the Society for the Encouragro- 

 uient of Arts, Manufactures, and Cohiiihm-cc. London, May 17, 1904. Reprinted 

 from the Journal of the Society of Arts. June 10, 1904. 



693 



