AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



February, 1913 



men, as for instance, the London 

 Guild, which was composed of Eng- 

 lish pewterers and was the most im- 

 portant of its day. The Edinburgh 

 Guild of Scottish workmen ranked 

 second. The French Pewterers' 

 Guild was abolished by Turgot, on 

 the ground that the free right to 

 labor was a sacred privilege of hu- 

 manity. It was a mistake to abolish 

 the Guild, for with it the quality and 

 use of pewter was steadily de- 

 creased. Porcelain and pottery 

 gradually increased in use after the 

 year 1750, the beauty of these 

 wares making them easy favorites. 

 The Germans practiced the craft of 

 pewter making to a very consider- 

 able extent, and Nuremburg and 

 Augsberg were apparently the head- 

 quarters of this industry. The 



records of enactment at the latter place go to show that the 

 workshops were inspected by the Masters of the Craft as 

 early as 1834. 



Nuremburg, too, had her famous workmen, the best 

 known being Harold Carel and Sevaldus Ruprecht. A 

 coterie of Master Pewter-Makers was furnished by Scot- 

 land and Ireland, Edinburg and Glasgow being the chief 



pewter was at Boston, Massa- 

 chusetts, — which accounts for the 

 really fine specimens found through- 

 out the New England States, and es- 

 pecially in Massachusetts. There 

 were a number of pewter workers 

 in Philadelphia previous to the Rev- 

 olution although very little was 

 known regarding them. One of the 

 most prominent toward the latter 

 part of the eighteenth century was 

 Thomas Danforth. Many plates 

 and other pieces made by him have 

 been preserved. His establishment 

 was on the corner of High, now 

 Market, and Thirteenth Streets, 

 and almost all of his pieces were 

 marked. Sometimes "T. Danforth, 

 Philadelphia," and again, a circular 

 stamp about the size of a five dollar 

 gold piece, enclosing the figure of 



Old pewter charger from the Prescott Bigelow 

 collection 



an American eagle, bearing the initials, "T. D.," surrounded 

 by twenty-eight stars. 



Candle sticks of this same metal are found in a great 

 diversity of shapes and styles. Tavern pots, which came 

 to use early in the seventeenth century, and liquor glasses 

 of pewter, which are perhaps the greatest rarity, were 

 found. Some of the latter are of the most curious work- 

 centers of trade in the former country, while Dublin and manship, the bowl being encrusted with waved lines, multi- 

 Cork did a most extensive business in the latter. plication of which gives the effect of a scale pattern. 



Pewter was little used among the wealthy classes except Pewter spoons are very rare, bending easily and are one 



in kitchen and servants' quarters about the year 1780. It of the pieces, together with knives, which are more fre- 

 held sway for a considerable length of time, and in fact, quently melted down to be cast over again. Tankards or 

 it continued to be used regularly in some of the larger tappit-hens are also among the choice pieces, as was the 

 establishments within the last thirty years. It is used even hot water jug, which was used on Winter nights when the 



now in the servants' hall in two or three of the large old 

 country houses. 



Its use lingered longest in the tavern and inns and in 

 the London chop houses, until the coming in of coffee and 

 tea houses. It played a very important part in the early 

 households of America, in many cases being the only 

 available ware. After a little, as the population and 

 strength of the young colonies increased, it gave way, as 

 in England to the popularity of china. The principal port 

 of manufacture and also of the distribution of English 



master of the house made hot apple toddy. 



Pewter at its best is plain, relying entirely on its form, 

 for appearance. The polishing was a serious problem in 

 Colonial days, its brilliancy reflecting to the credit of the 

 housewife. The children gathered for this use a certain 

 rush from the swamps. It cost an extra effort to keep it 

 bright and shining, but no one who truly loves this reminder 

 of bygone days, will regret the time expended. The slow 

 gleam of silver-like hue gradually appearing on the surface 

 rewards his efforts much like the smile of a verv old friend. 



Pewter hot-water jug dated 1 796. Old English candlestick. Pewter tankard owned by Miss Mary Hodges of Topsfield, Massachusetts 



