English pewter English pewter While the term pewter covers a range of tin-based alloys, the term English pewter has come to represent a strictly-controlled alloy, specified by BSEN611-1 and British Standard 5140, consisting mainly of tin (ideally 92%), with the balance made up of antimony and copper. Significantly, it is free of lead and nickel. Although the exact percentages vary between manufacturers, a typical standard for present-day pewter is approximately 91% tin, 7.5% antimony and 1.5% copper. By the 15th century, the Worshipful Company of Pewterers controlled pewter constituents in England. This company originally had two grades of pewter, but in the
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,