Pewter
Alloys · Common · Medieval
The poor man's silver. Pewter's low melting point and ease of casting made it the standard tableware and decorative metal for ordinary households from Roman times through the 19th century. Medieval taverns served ale in pewter mugs; churches displayed pewter crucifixes.
Identity
Physical Properties
- Appearance
- Dull silver-grey, soft matte finish, looks like tarnished silver
- Luster
- Metallic
- Density
- 10 g/cm³
- Melting point
- 225 °C
- Boiling point
- 1740 °C
- Lighter
- Beskar
- Denser
- Molybdenum
- Magnetism
- Non-magnetic
- Electrical conductivity
- Medium
Mechanical Properties
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5
- Softer
- Mercury
- Harder
- Aluminum
- Workability
- Easy
- Brittleness
- Moderate
- Malleability
- Very High
- Ductility
- Moderate
Chemical Properties
- Corrosion resistance
- moderate
- Reactivity
- low
Lore & Narrative
Early pewter contained significant lead, which leached into food and drink. The medieval practice of storing acidic wine and ale in lead-rich pewter vessels contributed to widespread chronic lead poisoning, a slow poisoning that shaped history without anyone knowing its cause.
- Notable uses
- Tableware, mugs, religious objects, decorative items
- Forge uses
- tableware, religious objects, decorative items
- Worldbuilding traits
- common, medieval, toxic-lead, accessible
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