Video Demonstrations
The Large Vase is the tallest form I spin. With an overall height of 8", most firms would use a CNC (automated machine) to create this difficult to spin piece. I like doing it the old fashioned way, by hand. I'm using a heavy gauge disc so it takes a lot of force to move the metal. In the end, the critical element is keeping the wall thickness uniform from bottom to top. When I'm done forming, I incise 3 decorative lines, one at the base, and two on the upper, flared lip. Enjoy!
Pewter should be cleaned and polished once a year. This video gives you some simple time saving tips on how to keep your pewter looking great so that future generations can enjoy it too. It's a long video, but worth watching if you own some pewter pieces. If you know someone who has pewter, feel free to share. Enjoy!
The Apple Bowl is one of my Dad's earliest designs, and is a perennial best seller. Hand metal spinning takes a certain amount of finesse and a certain amount of force. This piece requires a great deal of both because the 10" disc is .070" thick!
I'm working out in the barn shop on my big Pryibil Lathe with overhead countershaft because the steel chuck (the form around which the pewter is shaped) weighs 25 lbs! You can see the 3" leather belt moving, and towards the end, I loosen... Read more
Hand metal spinning the top of my Martini Goblet. Starting with a 5.5" x .064" pewter disc and shaping the piece over an aluminum mandrel/chuck. Tricky spinning because of the narrow base. Thanks for watching!
The original silver cups, with later commemorative inscriptions, were part of General George Washington’s camp equipment during the Revolutionary War. The original set of 12 cups, used to serve wine to aides and guests at the General’s table, were made in the shop of Philadelphia silversmith Edmund Milne in August 1777. The Museum of the American Revolution owns 10 of the original set. My faithful adaptation of the Washington Camp Cup is hand spun, lead free pewter, and is table safe.
... Read moreMetal spinning a pewter Pen & Pencil Holder. Starting with a 7" x .064" pewter disc, shaping, burnishing, trimming lip & incising 2 decorative lines.
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!
I'm hand spinning a 7" x .064" pewter disc around an 11 pc. steel sectional chuck.
The Centerpiece Vase is one of our oldest and most popular designs. Fresh flowers and dried flower arrangements both look great in this wide mouth vessel.
I'm hand metal spinning a 5" x .060" pewter disc (1,300 rpm's), and forming the body of a baby cup, burnishing, trimming, and rolling the top lip.
The Tall Baby Cup is another popular design for those folks who want a little more volume coupled with a decorative scroll handle.
I'm spinning a 4" x .050" pewter disc, trimming and rolling the edge.
Our Coasters have a nice look and feel. The rolled outer lip adds stability and the weight is good so these won’t stick to your glass the way most coasters do. Sold in sets of four.
Metalspinning the base to a Sonoma Wine Goblet. It is a very difficult metal spinning project. It takes 3 chucks to get to the final form.
The Sonoma Goblet is a beautiful new piece which incorporates the cup from the Leddell Chalice and the taller version of the Stem Goblet base. Here again, I’ve used existing forms and molds to come up with a new design. The Sonoma Goblet has wonderful lines and feels great in the hand. A pair of these would be a wonderful gift!
Pages
Limited Items
New Tulip Tankard
A friend who is a customer asked me to make... read more
Professional Associations
League of NH Craftsmen
Jonathan Gibson—one of America’s premiere... read more
Featured Items
Bonynge Pint Mug
Robert Bonynge was an 18th century Boston... read more
As Seen In...
Yankee Magazine
on Gibson and Gibson Pewter are featured in... read more