Pitcher

1830-1860

Measurements

7-1/4 in x 8-1/2 in x 6-1/2 in (dia)

Materials

Pewter (Britannia)

Credit Line

Historic Odessa Foundation, The David Wilson Mansion, Inc.

Accession Number

1971.893

Condition Notes

The body is bent inward below the spout.  Some melting of foot-ring is visible.

Provenance

Ex coll. Mrs. E. Tatnall (Mary Corbit) Warner.

Comments

This unmarked pitcher is made of a refined version of pewter, a tin alloy, called Britannia.  Britannia was a harder and less brittle metal that could be shaped by spinning the work against a chuck or form.  It also polished to a higher sheen, more similar to silver.  This baluster-shaped pitcher has an applied cast handle.  The spout is a separate piece of metal that has been cut into the top of the body and soldered in place.  Pewter has a low melting point so that objects such as this one, left on a hot stove, were subject to melting.