Gleason Pewter – Tableware

Porringers

Gleason’s traditional designs included porringers such as these from the 1830s with burnt-on coronet ear or crown-design handle and with heart-and-crescent ear. Most of the surviving American specimens of porringers were made after 1800, and by about 1830 their production had pretty well ceased. Whereas pewter makers treated the bowl of a porringer without much differentiation, they experimented with designs for the handles, and each maker could have devised his own individual pattern. Molds were so costly, however, that pewter makers often used hand-me-downs. In addition, they were comfortable with conventional patterns, so the result is that collectors have found only about 20 different designs among porringer handles.

Most of the surviving American specimens of porringers were made after 1800, and by about 1830 their production had pretty well ceased. Whereas pewter makers treated the bowl of a porringer without much differentiation, they experimented with designs for the handles, and each maker could have devised his own individual pattern. Molds were so costly, however, that pewter makers often used hand-me-downs. In addition, they were comfortable with conventional patterns, so the result is that collectors have found only about 20 different designs among porringer handles.

Of the most common American handle designs, Gleason seems to have employed at least the Crown design and Hearts and Crescent.

No. 14395 Crown design for porringer handle.
No. 5204 Gleason pewter porringer with crown design for handle.
No. 14396 Hearts and Crescent design for porringer handle.
No. 5043 Gleason pewter porringer with hearts and crescent design for handle.

Cups and Bowls

No. 5030 Small pewter tumbler with machine-turned decorative bands.
No. 5031 Pewter communion cups or chalices; thistle-form goblets of the type found with Gleason flagons.
No. 10396 Pewter mug or handled beaker with cylindrical body and scroll handle.
No. 5051 Small pewter bowl with applied ring handle, possibly a drip pan or the bowl for a cuspidor.

Pitchers

No. 10399 Pewter creamer with beaded rim and figural C scroll handle, circa 1840s
No. 5042 Silver-plated creamer.
No. 5175 Small pewter pitcher.
No. 5029 Pewter syrup pitcher.
No. 5033 Octagonal panel-sided pewter creamer, with C-scroll handle, circa 1840s.
No. 5055 Pewter water pitcher.

Coffee and Tea Pots

No. 8440 Globular pewter teapot with wooden handle.
No. 50o46 Pewter teapot in Queen Anne shape.
No. 5038 Pewter teapot with pigeon-breasted design, made of panels forming an octagon with wooden handle.
No. 5044 Pewter coffee pot in lighthouse form.
No. 5023 Pewter coffee pot of American or baluster form.

Bell

No. 5035 Silver-plated bell with Gleason mark on bottom.
No. 10400 Gleason mark on bottom of bell.
Skills

Posted on

April 29, 2020