The difference between Britannia metal and Pewter

If you enjoy antiques and like watching TV programmes such as Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip, you might have noticed that the experts often talk about Pewter and Britannia Metal.


But what actually is it and where does it come from?

Pewter is a metal alloy. It is made predominantly from tin (between 85% - 99%) and a mix of other metals including antimony, bismuth copper and lead.

Pewter has been used since the Bronze Age and is extremely workable. Pewter religious objects were very common in churches from the Middle Ages. Pewter was also the main type of tableware until porcelain became more common and a popular material for candlesticks, tankards, platters, plates and similar objects. 

It is generally regarded as having it’s heyday in the 17th Century and pewter dating from this time and earlier can be very valuable and collectable. 

However, pewter remains popular today, especially for commemorative items and you can still find new pewter tankards and ornaments on sale.

British and Irish pewter generally carries marks, which can be used to identify the maker and date of manufacture. There are six types of pewter marks that you can use to help identify pewter but it is an imprecise science.

1.  A quality mark such as a rose, crown or X . These marks were not applied after the 1700s. Later quality marks may include slogans such as made in London.

2. Initials or names and a date – known as a touch mark.

3. Hallmarks similar to silver hallmarks, which usually contain pictures. Make sure you do not mistake your pewter piece for solid silver!

4. If there are any words or measurements on the pewter it is considered a makers mark and may help you identify the age of the pewter by the lettering style.

5. You may find a maker’s name or address somewhere on the pewter which is known as a pot touch mark.

6. If you find initials displayed in a triangular shape it is a mark of ownership which has been applied by the owner of the pewter.
In general, the large letter refers to the initial of the surname and the smaller letters refer to the initials of the husband and wife. This type of marking often denotes that the pewter dates from the 18th century.



Britannia Metal

Britannia Metal is technically a form of pewter but does not contain lead. It was favoured because of its white appearance and was first known as white metal. Britannia Metal contains antimony tin and copper and it was first used commercially by Sheffield manufacturers from around 1769.

Britannia metal can look very similar to silver, especially when it is highly polished so make sure you check the hallmark first. Britannia Metal can also look very similar in appearance to pewter, especially if it has dulled in colour. It was used for a variety of purposes such as tea services , and can be seen as having its heyday  in the 19th century.

Britannia metal is often used as a base metal for electro plating silver objects and is marked on British hallmarks as EPBM – Electroplated Britannia Metal.

Subscribe to this site by email

Difference between Britannia metal and Pewter 

How to identify antique pewter hallmarks

Antique Pewter Hallmarks are the small symbols or stamps found on pewter.

They allow the viewer to gain valuable information about the maker of the pewter object and possible dating and value of the pewter.

British pewter hallmarks also called touch marks, date back to the Medieval Age providing the collector with good information.

Early pewter hallmarks or touch marks were very simple at first, often just initials or simple devices, but these became more elaborate over the years, as manufacturers added more flourishes to their work.

Many early pewter hallmarks include small makers marks contained in a shield and words such as “superfine metal.” Sometimes the maker’s name is written in full.

Unfortunately, most records of the first antique hallmarks (up to 1666) were destroyed by the great fire of London that engulfed the Pewterers hall.

Once the hall was rebuilt, the guild set about recording these marks again and accumulated over a thousand pewter hallmarks over the years that followed.



In 1970, the pewter manufacturers formed the Association of British Pewter Craftsmen  - with the approval of the Worshipful Company of Pewterers London.

The ABPC established a new pewter hallmark first used in 1971, as a quality mark.

This is a circular mark, which contains a large letter A within which are contained the letters BPC.

Knowledge of Antique pewter hallmarks or pewter touches helps you date and set a value on any piece.

In addition, today’s modern pewter looks set to become the collectables of the future so appeals to modern buyers as well.

For more  detailed information about Pewter Hallmarks please visit.
http://www.thebigworld.co.uk/antique-pewter-hallmarks.htm

antique pewter hallmarks

Antique Pewter Hallmarks are the small symbols or stamps found on pewter.

They allow the viewer to gain valuable information about the maker of the pewter object and possible dating and value of the pewter.

British pewter hallmarks also called touch marks, date back to the Medieval Age providing the collector with good information.

Early pewter hallmarks or touch marks were very simple at first, often just initials or simple devices, but these became more elaborate over the years, as manufacturers added more flourishes to their work.

Many early pewter hallmarks include small makers marks contained in a shield and words such as “superfine metal.” Sometimes the maker’s name is written in full.

Unfortunately, most records of the first antique hallmarks (up to 1666) were destroyed by the great fire of London that engulfed the Pewterers hall.

Once the hall was rebuilt, the guild set about recording these marks again and accumulated over a thousand pewter hallmarks over the years that followed.



In 1970, the pewter manufacturers formed the Association of British Pewter Craftsmen  - with the approval of the Worshipful Company of Pewterers London.

The ABPC established a new pewter hallmark first used in 1971, as a quality mark.

This is a circular mark, which contains a large letter A within which are contained the letters BPC.

Knowledge of Antique pewter hallmarks or pewter touches helps you date and set a value on any piece.

In addition, today’s modern pewter looks set to become the collectables of the future so appeals to modern buyers as well.

For more  detailed information about Pewter Hallmarks please visit.
http://www.thebigworld.co.uk/antique-pewter-hallmarks.htm

Whats the difference between Britannia metal and Pewter

If you enjoy antiques and like watching TV programmes such as Bargain Hunt and Antiques Road Trip, you might have noticed that the experts often talk about Pewter and Britannia Metal.


But what actually is it and where does it come from?

Pewter is a metal alloy. It is made predominantly from tin (between 85% - 99%) and a mix of other metals including antimony, bismuth copper and lead.

Pewter has been used since the Bronze Age and is extremely workable. Pewter religious objects were very common in churches from the Middle Ages. Pewter was also the main type of tableware until porcelain became more common and a popular material for candlesticks, tankards, platters, plates and similar objects. 

It is generally regarded as having it’s heyday in the 17th Century and pewter dating from this time and earlier can be very valuable and collectable. 

However, pewter remains popular today, especially for commemorative items and you can still find new pewter tankards and ornaments on sale.

British and Irish pewter generally carries marks, which can be used to identify the maker and date of manufacture. There are six types of pewter marks that you can use to help identify pewter but it is an imprecise science.

1.  A quality mark such as a rose, crown or X . These marks were not applied after the 1700s. Later quality marks may include slogans such as made in London.

2. Initials or names and a date – known as a touch mark.

3. Hallmarks similar to silver hallmarks, which usually contain pictures. Make sure you do not mistake your pewter piece for solid silver!

4. If there are any words or measurements on the pewter it is considered a makers mark and may help you identify the age of the pewter by the lettering style.

5. You may find a maker’s name or address somewhere on the pewter which is known as a pot touch mark.

6. If you find initials displayed in a triangular shape it is a mark of ownership which has been applied by the owner of the pewter.
In general, the large letter refers to the initial of the surname and the smaller letters refer to the initials of the husband and wife. This type of marking often denotes that the pewter dates from the 18th century.



Britannia Metal

Britannia Metal is technically a form of pewter but does not contain lead. It was favoured because of its white appearance and was first known as white metal. Britannia Metal contains antimony tin and copper and it was first used commercially by Sheffield manufacturers from around 1769.

Britannia metal can look very similar to silver, especially when it is highly polished so make sure you check the hallmark first. Britannia Metal can also look very similar in appearance to pewter, especially if it has dulled in colour. It was used for a variety of purposes such as tea services , and can be seen as having its heyday  in the 19th century.

Britannia metal is often used as a base metal for electro plating silver objects and is marked on British hallmarks as EPBM – Electroplated Britannia Metal.