Pewter is an alloy composed of tin, copper, and antimony. It is considered a white metal, as it has a finish similar to silver, although it can also have a more opaque, matte tone similar to bronze.

Its origins are linked to the Bronze Age. But here we'll tell you about its heyday between the 18th and 19th centuries. At the beginning of the 18th century, silver-plated pewter became established among the emerging European middle class, especially during the Regency (1715-1723) and Rococo (approximately 1730-1770) periods, with the production of earthenware and decorative art. Why? Because it was an inexpensive material that could be melted at relatively low temperatures and was also very malleable. For the time, it was the ideal product. So much so that it was very common for churches in the poorest and most rural areas of Europe to use pewter for their religious and decorative objects, due to its resemblance to silver.

However, its production stagnated with the massive influx of porcelain and glass to the continent. Cities that once boasted twenty to thirty pewter workshops ended up with no more than one or two. But with the emergence of Art Nouveau (1890-1910) on the European scene, pewter regained prominence. Great artists embraced this marvelous material for their creations, preferring it even over bronze, iron, and silver. Among them, we can highlight Adolphe Jean Lavagne (1868-1928), Auguste Rodin (1840-1917), and Louis Sauvageau (1822-1874).