Goldsmiths House, 10-14 Cambridge Street, Aylesbury, Bucks HP20 1RS
01296 482 963
01296 482 963
Pewter
A traditional metal, made from a mixture of Tin (approximately 91%), Antinomy (approximately 7.5%) and Copper (approximately 1.5%).
Modern Pewter is perfectly safe to use and is free from the lead that is present in most antique Pewter.
Tankards especially are traditionally made from pewter and are available in full or half pints, and available with glass bottoms. Legend has it that the glass bottomed tankard derived from recruiting practices for the British army in the 19th century. When recruits enlisted, they accepted a payment of one Shilling, known as the King’s Shilling.
Even if you didn’t know you had accepted it, you became part of the army. Army recruiters would buy a round of beer for the able-bodied candidates they met in pubs. They would trick them into accepting the shilling by dropping it into their beer. When the candidate finished his drink he would find a Shilling at the bottom of his tankard. Glass bottomed tankards allowed men to check their drinks for coins before accepting them.