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it used to contain lead (hence the 'traditionally') |
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[[File:Fork-Viking-Pewter-detail.jpg|thumb|125px|Detail on a pewter fork handle from Norway, showing three scenes: King [[Olaf II of Norway]], his men, and a Viking ship]]
'''Pewter''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|juː|t|ər}}) is a [[ductility|malleable]] [[metal]] [[alloy]]. It is traditionally composed of 85–99% [[tin]], mixed with [[copper]], [[antimony]], [[bismuth]], and sometimes [[silver]] or [[lead]], although the use of lead is less common today. Copper and antimony act as hardeners while lead is more common in the lower grades of pewter, which have a bluish tint. Pewter has a low [[melting point]], around {{convert|170|-|230|C|F}}, depending on the exact mixture of metals.<ref>{{harvnb|Campbell|2006|p=207}}.</ref> The word ''pewter'' is probably a variation of the word ''[[spelter]]'', a term for [[zinc]] alloys (originally a colloquial name for zinc).<ref>{{harvnb|Skeat|1893|pp=438–439}}.</ref>
== History ==
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