English Pewter Company Heavy Gauge Kings Shilling Glass Bottom Tankard

• Height: 144mm
• Width: 130mm
• Depth: 90mm
• Holds: 1 Pint / 568ml
• Lead Free English Made Pewter

English Pewter Company Sheffield has long had a tradition and industry based on metalwork, silverwork and cutlery. In 1977 Alan and Robert Shaw set up the English Pewter Company. With a commitment to quality, service and price they soon became the UK's largest manufacturer of quality pewter giftware.

Pewter Pewter, an easily worked alloy, has been in use in Britain for near on 2000 years. Pewter remained a cottage industry until 1770 when a new pewter alloy which used Antimony and Copper instead of Lead was developed in Sheffield, it became known as Britannia metal and was capable of being given a bright polish.

Kings Shilling Tankard This beautiful heavy weight one pint pewter tankard is one of the most iconic and historically significant tankards of the English Pewter Company range, telling as it does the story of how Naval press gangs used to trick drinkers to enlist using glass bottomed tankards. The straight sided, heavy gauge tankard is complete with text that reads; 'The King's Shilling, England's navy while being the life line for the small island nation were always short of trained sailors. To get more men to join the navy the press gangs were sent out to recruit men between the ages of 18 and 55 some would be knocked unconscious, threatened with a sword, pistol or musket, or plied with ale. Others would find a shilling at the bottom of their tankard of ale and since they were in possession for the king's shilling, they were in the navy. This led to landlords using glass bottom tankards.' . The tankard is completed with its own glass bottom, complete with enclosed Shilling and a gorgeous Worcester rope style handle to give it a historic and striking overall look, as well as having the added interest of the story which it tells. Supplied in an elegant cream and black silk lined presentation box