That any pewter of the American colonies has survived is somewhat of a miracle. With no domestic raw material, and forced to send to England for tin at exorbitant cost and unreliable delivery, 17th and 18th-century pewterers were restricted to melting worn pieces to cast as new. Despite these trials, fine examples of their craft showcase a quintessentially American style resonant to this day. In Liberty, the influence of European forms is undeniable, but it is the unpretentiousness and ease of style that speaks of the character of the New World.