Pewter is one of the oldest known metal alloys, traced back to the Bronze Age between 3300 and 1200 B.C. Commonly used in the Ancient Near East, the earliest piece of pewter was found in an Egyptian tomb from approximately 1450 B.C. Pewter is a soft, yet durable material. Fine pewter is a tin based alloy consisting of at least 90% tin and one to three percent each of silver, copper, bismuth, and antimony. Traditionally, lead was often used in pewter. Today, because lead is known to have a harmful impact on the human body, almost all pewter items created in the U.S. are lead-free.
Not surprisingly, pewter is the fourth most popular metal used in jewelry, ranking just behind gold, silver, and platinum. Pewter is a sought after material for jewelry because it can be polished to a high shine, chemically darkened for an antique look, or “brushed” to leave a rough surface. When finished properly, polished pewter often resembles the rich luster of silver. Unlike silver, lead-free pewter does not tarnish when exposed to air. Cleaning pewter jewelry involves nothing more than mild soap, water, and a soft cloth. Never use brass or silver polish for cleaning pewter. Pewter polish is available, but only a small amount should be used and as seldom as possible. Always polish using straight lines rather than circles. Pewter jewelry should be kept away from sources of extreme heat and removed when working with any kind of chemicals. When storing pewter jewelry, wrap items in a soft cloth to ensure enjoyment for years to come.
We welcome you to explore the variety of lead-free pewter necklaces and scripture verse pocket tokens available at Clothed with Truth.
