Pewter
Pewter is among the most venerable and versatile materials in Swedish craftsmanship, and one of the few metals to have been used since prehistoric times. At Svenskt Tenn, pewter has been the lifeblood of the enterprise since its founding by Estrid Ericson in 1924. With its lustrous surface and enduring strength, this timeless material grows only more beautiful as the years pass.
Pewter as a material
Pewter is a soft metal of elegant silver-grey hue, widely used today for decorative objects, tableware and jewellery. Its lasting popularity lies in part in its graceful ageing; over time, pewter acquires a natural patina that lends each piece a distinct character. Malleable and silvery-white, pewter resists oxidation, and is often employed to protect other metals from corrosion through a fine coating.
The making of Svenskt Tenn’s pewter objects
Svenskt Tenn’s pewter objects are crafted at Humstorp Metall in Västergötland, Sweden, and at the family-owned company Freitas in Portugal.
The process begins with the ignition of the melting crucible. Pewter melts at 232 degrees Celsius, and it takes about an hour to reach the optimal temperature for casting. The molten metal is then poured into moulds known as kokiller—a delicate operation requiring exceptional precision and craftsmanship.
The slightest miscalculation—whether in temperature, angle, or pouring speed—may cause a casting to fai