Match Pewter

Match began with a sound. In 1995, walking through a warren of alleyways in northern Italy, David Reiss heard the staccato hammers of craftsmen shaping pewter and was captivated. That chance moment led to a company devoted to a metal that has graced tables for centuries, made by hand in family workshops where the skills have passed from one generation to the next.

A Chance Find in 1995

Reiss, a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, was inspired by the old soul of this distinctive material. He launched Match with a debut collection of forty original designs rooted in classic European forms, and the company still tells the story of its very first pewter pieces being sold from a box attached to a Vespa.

Over the years, his designs have grown to include both traditional and modern styles. Many pieces combine handcrafted pewter with fine crystal or ceramic, and each reflects Reiss's belief that Match Italian pewter is an heirloom in the making. The designs are developed together with the artisans, who are trusted to guard certain processes of their own.

What Makes Match Pewter

Pewter's story reaches back thousands of years, to ancient Egypt, and the metal appears again and again in classical paintings, from the tables of noble households onward. Match sees its own pieces as part of that long thread, with original designs made for modern life rather than for display alone.

Pewter is an alloy of tin, copper and antimony, and to truly be called pewter it must contain at least 92 percent tin. Match pewter contains 95 percent tin and no lead at all, which is why the number "95" is stamped into every piece. The alloy is food safe, and unlike silver it tarnishes only very slowly.

In the workshops of northern Italy, many pieces are still cast from original antique molds, then refined through several finishing processes, one piece at a time. Hold a Match bowl or frame and you can feel the reassuring weight of the metal and the subtle ridges left by the old molds. On pieces such as the Convivio dinnerware, the pewter rim is stamped with hallmarks for the workshop, the company, the tin content of the alloy and the Italian city where it was made.

The Collections

The signature Match tabletop line is Convivio, which pairs a ceramic body with a hand-finished pewter rim, so a dinner plate or serving bowl has the warmth of pewter with the practicality of glazed ceramic. The 1508 collection offers ceramics with a rich white glaze designed to sit alongside Convivio and the other pewter-rimmed pieces, and it is safe for the oven, microwave, dishwasher and freezer.

Match flatware pairs pewter handles with stainless steel, and patterns such as Gabriella and Lucia give each place setting its own character. You will find the complete range of patterns in our Match flatware.

Beyond the dinner table, the barware collection includes decanters, ice buckets, cocktail shakers and jiggers, many pairing crystal with pewter. Picture frames, candlesticks, vases and boxes carry the same soft gleam into the rest of the home, and they make lasting gifts for weddings, anniversaries and new homes.

Living With Pewter

Pewter asks for very little. To clean it, wash by hand in warm water with a liquid dish soap and dry it completely, since water left to dry on pewter can cause spots. Any spots that do appear can be removed with gentle polishing.

Match flatware and Convivio dinnerware can go in a dishwasher on the lowest heat setting with a liquid detergent, but the company advises hand washing if you have hard water, as minerals can cause tarnishing or pitting, and pewter should never go through a commercial dishwasher. Stemware and barware should always be washed by hand without soaking in hot water. Because pewter is a soft metal with a low melting point, it should never be placed in an oven or microwave or near an open flame.

Used and cared for in this way, Match pieces settle comfortably into daily life, from a weekday breakfast to a holiday table.

Match pewter has been made by hand in family workshops in northern Italy since David Reiss founded Match in 1995. See every Match pewter pattern.