Pewter is commonly an alloy of tin, lead, antimony, silver
and copper. However, U.S. pewter manufacturer's today are required to make lead free pewter. When you see "lead-free"
pewter on my products, the composition is an alloy of tin, bismuth, silver and copper.
The reason lead was widely used and still used today around the world is because
lead makes the metal flow more easily when creating more intricate pieces. Without lead there is more waste. Modern day English
pewter is also lead-free.
In the 1700-1800's, pewter was the most widely used metal in the USA. Pieces
were often marked with a family crest to discourage pilfering among the high society owners. Everything from decanters, mugs,
tankards, bowls, dishes, candlesticks, and canisters were made from pewter. However, acidic foods and drinks allowed the lead
to leach out.
A recent law passed by Congress requires new testing for lead and phthalates in anything sold
to children under the age of 12 years old. While the majority of my pewter is lead-free some of the older mounted pieces are
not. At this time, rocks aren't exempt.
I have contacted my manufacturer
and have a copy of their certificate that all the pewter I get from them is completely lead-free which is the majority of
what I have. I will slowly, but surely be identifying specific items as such. If an item does
not specifically say that it is lead-free, it only means that I do not have certification for that particular piece.
The problem with the new CPSIA law concerning lead in children's products
is that the reseller is made responsible for testing each individual piece for lead content even though the manufacturer has
already produced that proof. Testing is extremely expensive and the piece is destroyed in the process.
Let's
take, for example, a night light. Every component must be tested. The agate slab, pewter figure, the plastic clip and housing
(for phtalates), and the inner workings. This could cost as much as $4000 per item as only approved labs are accepted for
testing. Home testing kits are NOT approved!
More will be added to this page as information is obtained.
