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 1-800-336-0829

 

What is Pewter?

Pewter is an alloy or mixture of metals that can contain various percentages of tin, lead, antimony, bismuth, copper or silver.

The best pewter or "Fine Pewter" contains at least 92% tin and no lead. Antimony and bismuth add varying degrees of strength and/or hardness. It is sad to note that some low grade pewters contain as much as 80% lead. These are to be avoided, especially if the pewter will be used in contact with food or beverages.

Heritage PewterTM is high grade "Fine Pewter" which is lead-free. All of the products in this site are fine pewter.

 

How To Clean Pewter

Pewter can be cleaned or renewed in several different ways.
 
  1. Wiping with a damp cloth can remove many stains or dust build-ups.
  2. If the item has a highly polished finish, some light tarnish can be removed with pewter polish (similar to polishing silver). Do not use silver polish on pewter. You can obtain pewter polish at higher-end retailers who sell pewter serving items.
  3. If the item has a satin or matte finish, you can rub it gently with very fine "0000" steel wool. It is best to try a small a spot on the bottom first to see how it looks.
 
We get many calls questioning the value of an old pewter piece that someone has found or acquired. Our best advice is to take the item to an appraiser in your local area. An experienced appraiser can best determine the value of an item after inspecting it.