Care & FAQs
Care
Today’s pewter is in an attractive silvery colour and classic. Pewter will maintain its lustre for a lifetime and more, with minimum care.
General care for pewter
- Hand wash with warm soapy water, rinse thoroughly and dry with soft cloth to avoid water marks.
- Always clean & dry pewter immediately after use.
- Do not wash pewter in dishwasher, the detergent and high heat will damage the finish. Do not leave food/liquid in pewter overnight as extended exposure can stain the surface.
- Do not expose pewter to direct flame, on a hot plate or in an oven as it has low melting point.
- Clean pewter occasionally if you live by the sea as atmospheric salt will dull its lustre.
General care for D’Passage Collection & wooden part of pewter.
- Wipe off dirt and dust with soft dry cloth.
- Apply linseed or olive oil to both wood and pewter parts.
- Shine with soft cloth.
- Occasionally, gently polish the pewter along its polish lines using fine-grained sandpaper. Polish in one direction only.
- Never expose pewter to direct flame or strong heat.
FAQs
Pewter Art ® gifts & trophies are handcrafted by craftsmen in Penang, Malaysia.
What is pewter made of?
Pewter is a tin-based alloy. The best pewter comprises of 97% refined tin, 2% antimony and 1%copper, containing no lead and is safe to use around food and drink.
Why is pewter so expensive?
Pewter requires a great deal of hand craftsmanship. A piece of pewter reflects several variables: the number of steps, the degree of skill, and the quantity of tin required. Pewter is considered the fourth most valuable metal in common use, right after platinum, gold, and silver.
How is pewter made? Process?
- Casting
- an iron mould producing a single casting
- a centrifugal casting machine, allowing for multiple castings of small items from a single rubber mould
In casting, molten pewter is poured into:
For a perfect casting in (i), molten pewter is skilfully poured into a pre-heated iron mould to ensure the smooth flow of pewter, through a channel called “Gate”. The iron mould is then cooled and dismantled so that the casting can be removed. The “Gate” is then cut off.
In (ii), Rubber moulds are useful for creating detailed figurines and ornaments.
- Cutting & Polishing
The beauty of pewter is often enhanced through polishing. All pewter from iron mould casting are then cut by skilful craftsmen manually. The pewter is mounted on a turning disc, while turning, a hand tool is pressed against the rapidly spinning pewter with a series of carefully executed sweeps and movements to remove thin layers of pewter. Then, it is polished with coarse abrasive to achieve the desired satin lustre.
- Soldering
Various parts of the item are soldered together. The pieces to be joined are heated, and a tin based alloy is applied. Under capillary action the molten material is drawn between the pieces, cools and hardens. Flux is used to remove oxides during heating. Timing and temperature control are critical in ensuring a perfect joint. Skilfully made joints are remarkably strong and virtually invisible.
- Quality Control
Every item is checked for weight, quality of finish and consistency in specifications before it leaves the factory.
Do pewter tarnish?
Pewter does not tarnish the way silver and copper tarnish. Like all metals, pewter does oxidize when exposed to air. But, unlike other metals, pewter oxidizes very slowly and evenly. The oxidation will not affect the charm of the pewter.
Can I cook in pewter?
Pewter is an ideal serving vessel for food and beverage, but it should not be used for cooking. It has a relatively low melting point and should not be brought in direct contact with a source of heat, such as an open flame, a stove, a microwave or an oven.
Can pewter be engraved?
Pewter engraves beautifully. And engraving makes an individual piece more personal and memorable. Initials, monograms, dates, awards, symbols, or our most meaningful personal inscriptions can all be engraved on the pewter. Engraved pewter is a favourite for weddings, christening, graduations, promotions, thank-you’s, retirements, trophies, and public presentations and gift. There are almost as many ways to engrave the pewter as there are reasons to give it…