Pewter is a soft metal made mostly of tin with one percent of copper and traces of some other metals. This mixture is called an alloy. The copper makes the tin harder, although the colour remains the same as tin. Like tin and copper, pewter melts at a low temperature for a metal, and that is why it was discovered at an early stage in human history, well before iron. It melts at about 200 degrees C, easily reached in any fire.

Pewter was first used in the Bronze Age in the Middle East. Pewter has been found in Egyptian tombs of the New Kingdom.

Because pewter was discovered so early on, it was used widely by all of the ancient civilisations. For example, it was used to make mugs and other tableware. It was the most common tableware used by wealthy people in Europe until good glass and porcelain were invented in the 18th century, so the wealthy Tudors and the early colonists in the USA all used pewter. When porcelain was used for plates and glass for glasses, pewter fell out of use. However, you are likely to find some old churches have historic pewter goblets or plates.

Today, pewter is used in decorative objects such as tankards and jewellery.