English pewter 16th century a third grade was added. The first type, known as "fine metal", was used for tableware. It consisted of tin with as much copper as it could absorb, which is about 1%. The second type, known as "trifling metal" or "trifle", was used for holloware. It is made up of fine metal with approximately 4% lead. The last type of pewter, known as "lay" or "ley" metal, was used for items that were not in contact with food or drink. It consisted of tin with 15% lead. These three alloys were used, with little variation, until the 20th
Square Mouthed Vases culture Square Mouthed Vases culture The Square Mouthed Vases culture (Italian: "cultura dei vasi a bocca quadrata") is a culture of the Middle Neolithic period, widespread in northern Italy during the fifth millennium BC. The name comes from the characteristic type of vessel, which has a square mouthpiece instead of circular. The culture is divided into three different time periods, depending on the style of the pottery decoration: the oldest is known as the Finale-Quinziano and shows a decoration of small incisions and graffiti; the middle period or Rivoli-Chiozza is characterized by meander and spiral decorations; while the most recent phase,