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Pewter is an alloy of metals, mostly of tin, with small amounts of copper, lead, bismuth, and antimony. It is both malleable and has a low melting point, allowing for both hammering and casting.

Medieval pewter appears to have been tin mixed with a small amount of copper, and then an variable amount of lead. There is documentation from the 15th and 16th centuries of various grades of pewter depending on intended use from England. Flatware had the least lead, holloware used somewhat more, and items not intended for contact with food had considerably more.

Pewter is impractical in military application, being too soft for weapons and armor. It was used primarily for tableware and similar vessels, ritual items in churches, and to a lesser extent decorative items and toys. This continued after the middle ages until porcelain and modern glass techniques replaced it in the 18th and 19th centuries.

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13y ago

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