House and Garden 
A LEAD WAFER TRAY 
bearing figures of armed knights. German XVII Century %vork 
In the Collection of Mr. C. V. Wheeler , Little Falls , N. Y. 
While considerable pewter was made in 
this country in Colonial times, as we shall 
presently see, the great bulk of the ware 
then in use here was obtained from abroad, 
principally from England and Scotland. A 
large proportion of the pieces 
found today are marked with 
the names of their makers 
and frequently a series of hall¬ 
marks, usually four in number 
and similar in appearance to 
the devices stamped on old 
plate. Many of these bear the 
names of the cities of London, 
Sheffield and Glasgow. In the 
illustration on page 106 are 
shown some of the typical 
forms of household utensils, 
mainly of British manufacture, 
used in the Uniteci States 
during the latter part of the 
eighteenth century. 
As gold is to silver, so was 
alchemy to pewter,—a cheap 
composition of brass and 
arsenicum, resembling the 
precious metal in color and 
susceptible of the brightest 
polish. Alchemy spoons of 
various sizes and patterns were 
at one time in considerable de¬ 
mand among those who were averse to the 
use of the baser pewter but could not afford 
the high priced product of the goldsmith’s 
art, and many of these spoons may be found 
among the dealers in antiquities, often bear- 
TEA SERVICE OF BRITANNIA WARE 
Made by "fames Dixon £jf Son , Sheffield , England , /8jO. The platter made by Richard King , London , lj8o 
In the Collection of the Penna. Museum 
