Some pewter forms can be further distinguished by types or names given to various, specific designs. Below common porringer handles , oil lamp fonts and teapots are illustrated.
American Porringer Handle Designs
Shown below are the six American porringer handle designs most commonly found, as illustrated in Ebert's, Collecting American Pewter .
Oil Lamp Burners and Font Designs
There are three basic types of oil lamp burners: Whale oil, illustrated below left; Camphene, illustrated below center; and the less commonly found Lard-oil, illustrated below right. Of note are the "snuffers" found attached to the Camphene lamps. Frequently referred to as snuffers, the caps were actually used to prevent evaporation of the camphene fluid when not in use and additionally used as snuffers
Lamp burners and fonts illustrated are as shown in Ebert's Collecting American Pewter.
American Teapot & Coffee Pot Forms
18th century teapots , 19th century teapots , coffee pots
Globular or Egg-shaped
Francis & Frederick Bassett
Queen Anne
Fred. Bassett, the Wills, Bradford, T. Danforth II, Love, Wm. Kirby
Queen Anne w/feet
Wm. Will, Bradford, Alberti
Drum-shaped
Wm. Will, Parks Boyd, Love
Queen Anne revival
Wm.Calder, Sam.Danforth, Boardmans, Sam. Pierce
Q. A. revival w/extended foot
Geo. Richardson, J. B. Woodbury
Drum-shaped
Tim. Brigden, Wm Calder
Oval or Boat-shaped w/feet
Israel Trask, W. Potter, Geo.Coldwell
(Made with both wood & metal handles)
Tall Q. A. revival
Sam. Pierce, Boardmans, Sam Kilbourn
Inverted Mold
(Top and bottom halves cast in same Mold)
Many makers, many variations
Pigeon-brested
Roswell Gleason & others
(Made with both wood & metal handles)
Reed & Barton type
(Made with both wood & metal handles)
Federal Form
Wm. Will & other Phil. Makers
(The only 18th century coffee pot form & have wooden handles)
Lighthouse
Israel Trask, Wm. Calder, others
(Made with both wood & metal handles)
(Shortened versions of this form were used as teapots)
Tall Coffee Pot
Many makers, many variations
(Have metal handles)
For additional information on the PCCA and on American Pewter, including a brief history, a glossary, an excellent comprehensive bibliography and much more, explore our site. Click on "About Pewter" at the top or the "Resources & Links" for additional links of interest..