Collectibles-General (Antiques)/PEWTER TAVERN MUG

Advertisement

Expert: Martin G Roberts - 10/4/2007


Question

Tavern mug
I BELIEVE IT TO BE A TAVERN MUG,MADE BY THOMAS WATSON SILVERSMITH OF SHEFFIELD ABOUT THE EARLY 19th CENTURY OR POSSIBLY LATE 18th.NOT SEEN ONE LIKE IT AFTER SEARCHING FOR SOME TIME.WOULD APPRECIATE ANTHING MORE YOU CAN ADD IE,RARITY,ANY VALUE OR NOT,AND IF DETAILS ARE CORRECT.

Answer
-

It's a beer mug, certainly, but made by Travis Wilson & Co, who were active 1909-1967. This example would be around 1950, I should think. It is Britannia metal, rather than cast pewter (see earlier answers of mine for details of BM). All sorts of shapes were made at this late period - so unusual shapes of the 1950s do not translate to value. To my knowledge, there are no collectors of 20th century beer mugs.

For future reference, English silversmiths did not manufacture pewter objects, and anything bearing a mark that actually says "pewter" is probably 20th century.

Martin
www.antique-metalware.co.uk

Martin G Roberts

Expertise

Pewter of the 19th Century and earlier from the British Isles and Ireland. I can comment on origin, date, rarity, and value. I cannot give detailed information on 'art' metalware, Art Deco, Art Nouveau or Arts & Crafts metalware. See my website for more information: www.antique-metalware.co.uk.

Experience

A collector for twelve years and a dealer for seven.

Publications
Journal of the Pewter Society
Pewter Society Newsletter
Bulletin of the Pewter Collectors' Club of America

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.