Plate 1750 - 1799

This plate was made by Francis Piggott, an English pewterer who was active in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Pewter is an alloy of tin, with small amounts of other metals like copper and antimony added for strength. To create this plate, Piggott would have first melted the pewter, then cast it in a mold. After cooling, the plate would have been removed and finished by hand, with the rim perhaps burnished on a lathe to sharpen its profile. The appeal of pewter lay in its affordability, as compared to silver and gold. It offered a clean, bright surface suitable for domestic use. Yet as a material, pewter is susceptible to scratching, and must be regularly polished to maintain its luster. The presence of this plate in a museum reminds us that everyday objects can also embody skilled labor, material ingenuity, and a rich social history.