German Pewter 1603-1850
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Glasgow Museums has a small collection of pewter made in Germany during the period 1603-1850, including objects such as flagons, tankards, and welcome cups. Pewter is an alloy of tin. During the seventeenth century and into the early eighteenth century, pewter was commonly used to produce domestic wares for everyday use, often in the home, taverns, or even for religious purposes. By the eighteenth century, there was a decline in use of pewter as the popularity of silver and ceramic plate grew for those who could afford such luxuries. Pewter was an easy alloy to cast, and to engrave due to the softness of the metal. The collection of German pewter contains examples of stoneware mounted on pewter, including salt-glazed stoneware bottles and tankards, and ‘krug’ ceramic tankards. There are also examples of urns and tankards used for institutional purposes, to commemorate trade guilds; known as ‘guild’ flagons they are identified with the addition of a shield decoration usually inscribed with the trade guild member name. A star object includes a pokal goblet that would be used most likely been used a ‘welcome cup’. There are also objects of miscellanea including a pewter toilet box that was said to belong to Queen Anne (1665-1714). These objects were donated to the city of Glasgow in 1944 by Sir William Burrell (1861-1958) and his wife, Constance, Lady Burrell (1875-1961).
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