Fine, Handcrafted Pewter in the Great American Tradition
Watch as Jon Gibson demonstrates how he uses the lathe to fashion a beautiful baby cup. Beginning with a flat pewter disc he spins and shapes the metal to a form, and then finishes with a gently-rounded lip. He completes the piece by soldering on a graceful, cast-pewter handle. Enjoy!
Height: 7.5″
Capacity: 10 oz.
Price: $250.00
Product code: CS4
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The Leddell Chalice is an adaptation of an 18th century chalice made by Joseph Leddell, Sr. of New York City, circa 1740s. The original is taller, with an unusually large cup. We scaled the cup down somewhat and the proportions now seem right.
I’m pretty sure my father’s inspiration for this project was seeing a photo of an original example from the New Haven Colony Historical Society which is engraved on the cup with the words, “Drink ye All Of This” and dated 1744!
Height: 7″
Price: $275.00
Product code: CS3
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The R. Gibson Chalice was my dad’s first chalice design. He was a Congregational Minister as well as a pewterer, so this piece had a special place in his heart.
As a result of his connection to the United Church of Christ, his chalices were presented, from time to time, to various church leaders in sister churches on other continents. This is truly a beautiful chalice.
Height: 8.75″
Price: $275.00
Product code: CS2
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The J. Gibson Chalice is an original design. At nearly 9″ in height, it’s the tallest chalice I make.
It shares the same base and shaft of the Dunham Candlestick, and the cup is from the Jumbo Tumbler. Pewterers in the 18th and 19th century mixed and matched parts too!
Each one of our chalices has a rich and gleaming finish.
Height: 3.5″
Price: $30.00
Product code: C13
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The Kid’s Cup came about a few years ago when my oldest child graduated from her baby cup. It’s a scaled down version of the Pint Beaker. Like all of my pieces, made from heavy gauge metal to withstand the tests of time.
Height: 3″
Price: $45.00
Product code: C12
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The Tall Baby Cup is another popular design for those folks who want a little more volume coupled with a decorative scroll handle.
Height: 2.5″
Price : $40.00
Product code: C11
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The Baby Cup with the woodgrain interior was the first piece my father made using this method. The cup is fashioned over birch and burnished. It’s a unique piece in every sense of the word.
Height: 2.5″
Price: $40.00
Product code: C10
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The Baby Cup with straight sides is my best seller with its wide base, rolled lip, and bullet proof handle. Neither of my kids could destroy their baby cups! Two incised lines at the top and bottom add a nice decorative touch.
Height: 2.5″
Price: $40.00
Product code: C09
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The Baby Cup with tapered sides has graceful lines. The scroll handle is a delicate, yet sturdy design and the rolled lip gives the young one something to gum when the teeth start sprouting.
Height: 2.5″
Price: $80.00
Product code: C08
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The Baby Mug seems to scream “baby boy!” Fortunately, many a young lass has received this cup as well. I made the first one of these for my nephew years ago, even though his family lives in wine country of northern California.
Height: 6″
Capacity: 10 oz.
Price: $100.00
Product code: C07
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The Footed Goblet was designed as a water goblet, but could be used for wine as well. Churches also use these in their communion sets.
Height: 7″
Capacity: 8 oz.
Price: $100.00
Product code: C06
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The Stem Goblet is a beautiful form. It’s our oldest wine goblet design and has been a favorite for many years. It’s also one of the most difficult pieces I make. The cup and the stem are extremely complex forms to shape on the metal spinning lathe. It’s the kind of work I do when no one is around to hear me shout.
Height: 2.75″
Capacity: 8 oz.
Price: $40.00
Product code: C05
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The Jefferson Cup may be one of the most recognizable metal forms ever created. The original cups were commissioned by Thomas Jefferson and made in silver.
Our Jefferson cup is of course made in pewter and the base is slightly wider than the original and flat. You will not find another cup that feels as good in your hand as this one!
Height: 3″
Capacity: 8 oz.
Price: $40.00
Product code: C04
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The Old Fashion Tumbler is another classic 18th century form with three incised lines near the slightly flared lip. Great for scotch, or any other short drink.
Height: 4″
Capacity: 11 oz.
Price: $45.00
Product code: C03
In the permanent collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
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The Woodgrain Beaker is perhaps the most interesting cup we make. My Father and I created this cup at the suggestion of Jonathan Fairbanks, former curator of American Decorative Arts, Museum of fine Arts, Boston around 1992.
Jonathan saw our Child’s Cup with the birch grain interior and asked us to make something taller, without a handle. This cup was the end result and one of the early examples was acquired by the MFA for its permanent collection in 1993. It, along with my Father’s prize winning Fruit Bowl were the only contemporary pieces of pewter added to their collection in the 20th century! Ideal for serving Mint Juleps.
The pewter is shaped around a wooden form, or chuck, which is made from oak. Once the metal is on the form, a burnishing tool is used to apply enough pressure on the outside if the vessel to impart the grain of the form on the inside of the beaker. Truly a unique piece!
Height: 3.5″
Capacity: 12 oz.
Price: $45.00
Product code: C02
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The Jumbo Tumbler was one of my father’s designs that has always been popular with our customers. It’s a low form with a wide base which allows room for ice cubes and your favorite drink!
Height: 5″
Capacity: 16 oz.
Price: $50.00
Product code: C01
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The Pint Beaker is a classic pewter form modeled after ones made in the 18th and early 19th with two incised lines in the middle of the body and a gentle curved lip. A pint of anything will taste better in this, my favorite beaker.
Height: 4″
Diameter: 4″
Price: $50.00
Product code: G03
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The Pen & Pencil Holder is a practical gift. I have two of these on my check out counter in my shop. Today we have more than pens and pencils on our desktop. Markers, rulers, and a host of other accessories will fit is this large vessel. Also of potential interest, they hold a pint of ice cream!
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