Buttons and Pewter

[Lodge Scent]

Nice to get out in the woods and do some detecting over the last couple of weekends. We had out first snow Friday. But it melted away on Saturday. Even though the skies were crystal blue, I got wet from the snow melting from the tree tops. It sounded like rain falling.

Found a handful of buttons and pewter spoon handle with the maker's mark of "W. Tutin". A little research showed he was a pewtersmith in Birmingham England in the mid 1700's.

Jeff

 

[Ill Digger]

Don't ya just love those English hallmarks! They make is so much easier to date them. And in return helps us date the sites we're hunting.
Sweet find Jeff!
Congrats!:grin:

 

[Full Metal Digger]

I had no idea pewtersmiths marked their wares like that! That's really cool. It looks as good as a silver hall mark.

 

[Lodge Scent]

Thanks Tim. I wish more of the pewter we find at our New England cellar hole sites had makers marks. Finding pewter spoons is pretty common, but finding pewter with maker's marks really isn't common. Not for me anyway here in MA. Maybe our friends in CT (where all the rich colonists lived) may find more pewter with maker's marks.

 

[Lodge Scent]

I had no idea pewtersmiths marked their wares like that! That's really cool. It looks as good as a silver hall mark.

Dave like I mentioned to Tim, I don't think many did. I only have a couple with recognizable marks. I think the snobby silversmiths get mad if the pewtersmiths marks are called "hallmarks". Apparently there was a pecking order back in the day and those that worked with sterling looked down their noses at the common pewter makers.

 

[Digger Don]

Very nice finds. Thanks for the info on the pewtersmiths. That handle is a very cool find!!!

 

[OxShoeDrew]

I don't recall ever finding a makers-mark on a pewter spoon. Interesting, Jeff!

 

[The Rebel]

Very nice finds! I love this time of year to be out in the woods, enjoying the peace and quite, and the beautiful display mother nature provides.