There are lots of examples of pewter wares from this period around. Few families have not had in their cupboards at one time or another beer mugs or parts of a pre-war pewter tea service. Many of these are good quality and aesthetically pleasing; however, the variety is limited and most collectors will look to earlier periods.
Pictured above: Danish Modern hammered pewter compote on tripod “penguin” figural base. Marks for E. Dragsted, Copenhagen, 1948-1958
Art Nouveau Pewter
One such is the Arts & Crafts and Art Nouveau period of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
A wealth of decorative and domestic items was produced in the art nouveau style with one British designer, Archibald Knox, being a significant contributor with his designs for the London store, Liberty’s. Items designed by Knox and others bear the ‘Tudric’ mark of Liberty’s and are becoming increasingly collectible.
The movement was, however, even more prominent in continental Europe and it is not difficult to find very attractive items from Kayserzinn, Orivit, Urania, WMF (Wurttembergische Metallwarenfabrik) – although one needs to be aware that the latter is still making pewter wares, often to earlier designs – and other German and French makers
There are no definitive books on pewter wares during this period, but many on contemporary designs or individual manufacturers, such as Knox and Liberty’s, which do include pewter.
