Menu:
Tankard. A lidded drinking vessel. (Unlidded drinking vessels are usually called “pots” or “mugs”.) Often classified by the type of lid, e.g. Dome, Double Dome, Flat, or by shape, e.g. Straight-Sided, Tulip.
Tappit hen. A Scottish measure found in various sizes (e.g. chopin and mutchkin) of a distinctive waisted form.
Tavern pot. Properly, a baluster measure owned by the tavern although often used as an alternative term for ‘mug’ or ‘pub pot’.
Tazza. A footed plate or shallow bowl.
Thumbpieces. Types include Acorn, Ball, Bud, Chairback, Double Volute, Erect, Hammerhead, Knopped Ball, Leaf, Palmette, Plume, Ramshorn, Scroll, Shell, Spade, Spray, etc. The style of the thumbpiece on a lidded flagon, tankard or measure is often used to classify the vessel itself as in ‘Bud Baluster Measure’.
Tin. Chemical symbol Sn The principle component of pewter. A silver-grey crystalline metal with a low melting point of 232 Centigrade. For thousands of years tin was mined mainly in Devon and Cornwall. From mediaeval times until the 17th century, kings of England secured control over the mines’ output using the tin produced as a means of raising money.
Tin pest. The disintegration of pure tin into powder at very low temperatures as it loses its crystalline structure. Contrary to the statements in some early books on pewter, tin pest never affects pewter.
Touch mark. See Pewter Marks: an Introduction
Triple reed. Another term used to describe a multi-reed plate, dish or charger with cast rings on the edge of the rim.
Verification Marks. Marks placed on a vessel certifying that the vessel was of correct capacity. Pieces may have been initially verified at source of manufacture, but were frequently verified at their place of use as well. A multiplicity of marks exist for monarchs, counties and localities that add great interest to collectors since they can convey provenance and because there is still a great deal to discover. N.B. Reference two below, published in 1996, is the most extensive work to-date on weights and measures used in the United Kingdom. (See Pewter Marks: an Introduction).
Wavy edge. A piece of sadware whose rim is formed of curved segments. Sometimes cast in this form but often created by adapting standard plates.
White Metal. See Britannia Metal. Beware, however, a white smith is a person who works in cold iron; that is the opposite of a blacksmith, and not somebody who works white metal.
Wrigglework. Zig-zag "engraving," made by walking a screwdriver-like tool from corner to corner of the blade. Such engraving can often be quite crude and naive.