Pewter
Pewter, a general name for several alloys in which tin is the principal component. An alloy of about 80 per cent tin with 20 per cent lead was a common form of pewter at one time. Copper and antimony are the metals usually added to the tin to make modern pewter. Bismuth is used occasionally. A larger proportion of tin ordinarily insures a better grade of pewter.
Pewter was used by the ancient Greeks and Romans. In 17th- and 18th-century Europe and America, pewter was widely used for kitchen utensils, tableware, and other household items. Pewter tableware was gradually replaced by glass and china. Interest in colonial pewterware led to a revival of pewter manufacturing in the 20th century. Manufacturers produced porringers, bowls, tankards, and other tableware based on colonial designs as well as coffee sets, cocktail shakers, and other household items of contemporary design.