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Antimony
Chemical symbol Sb One of the metals that may be alloyed with tin to create pewter. First used by British pewterers in the later 17th century. Historically known as ‘regulus’.

Baluster
A lidded or unlidded measure with a distinctive, slightly bulbous body. When lidded, often classified by the shape of the thumbpiece (e.g. hammerhead, bud, double volute, etc.). Very long history of use. Replaced in the early 19th century by the squatter bulbous measure whose body has a much more pronounced bulge.

Beaker
A handle-less mug or cup. Most common in England in the 19th century.

Beggar’s Badge
A badge, usually made of pewter, issued by parishes to ‘licensed’ beggars to be sewn into their clothing. Issued in Britain and Ireland between the 16th & 19th centuries. Some mediaeval examples are also known, mainly in continental Europe.

Bellied Measure
See ‘bulbous measure’.

Bleeding Bowl
A porringer-like vessel for blood letting, often with capacity marks around the inside of the bowl. Usually has straight, rather than curved, sides.

Bismuth
Chemical symbol Bi A pinkish white metal sometimes added to pewter in small quantities to improve the casting qualities of the alloy. Historically known as ‘tin glass’.

Booge (or Bouge)
The curved wall between the well and rim of a plate or dish.

Boss
A domed centre to a plate or dish: also referred to as a ‘bumpy-bottom’.

Britannia Metal
A trade description for a pewter alloy containing a comparatively high proportion of antimony - typically 92% tin, 6% antimony and 2% copper. This alloy was first introduced by Sheffield manufacturers in the second half of the 18th century and is a product of the industrial revolution. It was also known in its early days as white metal. As an alloy it has characteristics which permit articles to be made by cold-forming the alloy in sheet form (e.g. by spinning or stamping) rather than by casting. N.B. Some earlier books assert, possibly due to ignorance of the contents of the alloy, that Britannia Metal is not pewter!

Bulbous or Bellied Measure
A round bodied, mug-like vessel made in abundance during the 19th century and into the 20th century. Used in pubs and inns to provide varying measures of beer, ale, cider, spirits, etc. Usually lidless and in sizes ranging from a gallon down to very small sizes ).

Bumpy-bottom
See boss.