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The Pewter Collection

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Housed in the Hanford-Silliman House, this collection consists of more than 150 pieces of American, English, Oriental and Continental (European) pewter. They include porringers, plates, wine carriers, teapots, whale oil lamps, broth bowls and sauce lamps, among many other items, in knob, shell, double acorn and other designs. Pewter, a man-made alloy, contains approximately 90% tin and 10% copper, although the proportions differed by country, period and different craftsman.

The NCM&HS collection contains a range of weights and thicknesses, some of the heaviest being the David Melville porringer, the Cromwell trencher and the French broth bowls.

Pewter, a man-made alloy, contains approximately 90% tin and 10% copper, although the proportions differed by country, period and different craftsman. The NCM&HS collection contains a range of weights and thicknesses. Some of the finest pieces include a pair of American open baluster measures, a large deep dish plate with the mark of Parks Boyd of Philadelphia, a pair of American lamps circa 1830-1850, a 1697 Jacobean candlestick, a pair of 1749 English sauce boats and a 1766 English sill (a distillation apparatus).

Exhibit Details

ON VIEW IN THE TAVERN AND KEEPING ROOM OF THE HANFORD-SILLIMAN HOUSE

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We are excited to announce that construction on the Jim and Dede Bartlett Center for New Canaan History is underway! Events will occur as scheduled, but because of the logistical challenges in the main building, the portrait exhibition is available by appointment only. Please contact ngeary@nchistory.org.

WE WILL BE CLOSED FOR RESEARCH UNTIL June 4th.