Expert: Martin G Roberts - 11/5/2007

Question
Hello Martin,
Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions. Can you help with identifying the marks in the attached picture? What is the best reference book to help with this?
There are areas of the surface that suffer from discolouration and slight flaking. As if caused by damp. What is the best remedy ?

Thanks again.
Homer

Answer
-

Certainly - these are the pseudo-hallmarks of Ingram & Hunt of Bewdley, in Worcestershire, England. They worked from about 1778 to about 1807. But they were succeeded by Crane & Stinton (1807-c1821), and then by John Carruthers Crane (c1821-c1838), who also used the same pseudo-hallmarks. You can distinguish them by looking at the marks inside the base. Ingram & Hunt used an I&H mark with a curved LONDON label; Crane & Stinton a C&S mark also with a curved LONDON label, and John Crane an ICC mark with a straight BEWDLEY label.

Pseudo-hallmarks are a simulation of silver marks, but they do not carry the same meaning or significance - they are just a type of maker's mark.

Books: the most useful published reference work on British pewter marks is Cotterell's Old Pewter, published in 1929. But it is now rather out of date, as you would expect, and is hard to find and can be expensive. Unfortunately, there isn't really an abbreviated guide that would help, as sod's law dictates that the marks you have will be amongst those missed out. You might try a copy of Peal's British Pewter and Britannia Metal, or his Pewter of Great Britain, both of which are good general guides to pewter for the collector, but they have only limited information on marks, and are again a little out of date. The most up to date information on marks is maintained in the online database of the Pewter Society (www.pewtersociety.org) but this is accessible only to members.

Cleaning: the best advice is that, unless you are very confident of what you are doing, it is best to leave well alone. The surface colour is the result of oxidation, not damp as such, and the flaking is a sign of advanced oxidation in which the oxide forms flakes that separate from the underlying metal. A light oxide surface is desirable on pewter - it gives the characteristic soft colour - and cleaning will leave a garish bright surface, often badly scarred. If you are determined to try anyway, the available methods involve the use of either strong acids, strong alkalis, or electrolytic techniques that are too complex to explain here.

In general, if you keep your pewter dust-free, in a place where it will not be exposed to excessive moisture, and not too cold, the oxidation will not get much worse. You can seal the surface with Renaissance Wax if you wish to stabilise it.

I suggest you enjoy your pot as it is, or, if you really do not like it, sell it, and find a piece with a surface you prefer.

Martin
www.antique-metalware.co.uk