Pewter collecting started in the late 1800s. It became increasingly popular amongst mostly a small number of quite well off British Gentlemen and some wives. It was thought of as a new and eccentric hobby. Real interest with exhibitions and publications did not begin until the early 1900s.

For somewhat earlier (repeated from before) W. S. Gilbert expressed it perfectly (and this in 1889) - "The end is easily foretold, when every blessed thing you hold, is made of silver or of gold, you long for simple pewter"

This Society of Pewter Collectors had until the late 1940s a code of conduct where members did not criticise or fault other members’ pieces. Thus they themselves provided fertile ground for forgers and fakers of experience looking for easy profits.

Richard Neate even had his own hallmarks, a set of three, the second being a good strong lions head facing to the left, and the third the initials N.R (some said Naughty Richard!) His pieces are often difficult to tell from the real thing. He was very good at his chosen work, though seemingly he did not die a wealthy man.

Creation of imaginative splendid pieces, the making of a missing plate for a collector, the copying of someone else’s pieces, the dressing up of unmarked pieces with marks collectors might use to identify the maker and date the ‘piece’ were all tricks of the trade, calculated to deceive and enhance values to the seller. Ageing with acid or chemicals or even dye was not unusual. In Europe one maker was famous for taking an old plate, cutting out the centre with the maker’s mark and fitting it to the base of a new wine measure or lidded tankard; so that the new ‘antique’ had indeed got a genuine makers mark.

As such then it may be sensible for new collector’s to take care – something you like may not be costly but does it feel right? if it looks mass produced it probably was (in the 1920s), if the hall marks all look even and applied by one tool not four then likely it was later made than it might seem. Are there signs of age as might be fitting to the piece? If it is expensive then the Pewter Society may be able to offer some help to members who are undecided, certainly amongst the membership will be someone who has knowledge of the subject as relates to the type of piece in question.

Even knowing this, Pewter can be a joy to collect.