Pewter Platter found beneath a 1700s New England Farmhouse

[frogpatch]

I have had a couple marked pieces from around 1800 and they looked exactly like that. Pewter from the revolutionary war period is very soft and will bend with only a little finger pressure on the plate rim due to lead content. The lead content in the English pieces was higher that the American pieces made later. although many of the American pieces were marked London so they could get away with the higher lead content. Melting and reforming was common prior to the Revolution as the Colonies were banned from making pewter items. Some British pewter was formed into musket balls. How the plate got under the house will always be a mystery but it may have been destined for the melting pot.

[cogar]

Some British pewter was formed into musket balls.

When I lived in upstate NY .... I was told by someone that many of the old "missing" grave markers and per se "head stones" were made of pewter and they were taken and melted down to make musketballs for the Revolutionary War.

[cogar]

Any thoughts on value? Does it HAVE any, considering its condition?

Welllll, ...... iffen you can make up a good "story" to tell about it ...... then it's value will appreciate.

[loui80s]

It isn't particularly soft-it would take quite a bit to bend it and it doesn't look like it would dent easily, so probably 1800s? That's also really interesting about the musket balls! My favorite part of antiquing is the story. Stuff is just stuff to me, but the history is fascinating!

[mart]

You would be surprised at some of the stories !!