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St. Justin
Pewter:
The venerable alloy of pewter is made
of 92% tin, with copper and antimony to harden it and enhance casting. For many generations,
English pewter's tin content was Cornish in origin. Today, sadly, Cornish tin mining is
no more. Care of your St. Justin pewterware could not be easier. Cleaning of your item is
best done by washing it in warm soapy water, followed by thorough drying. A silver polishing
cloth is all that is needed to maintain a high polish.
(Please Note: Never place
pewterware in a dishwasher, as the high temperatures and the chemicals in the cleaning
agent will react adversely with the metal.)
Some History:
Each individual piece of St. Justin jewelry and giftware
is crafted by hand and eye in Cornwall, the South West extremity of Britain. This wild
and beautiful land was home to the many native Celts who were driven away from the
mild and temperate midlands of Britain by invading European warriors, such as the
Angles of Northern Germany. It is in places such as Cornwall, Wales, and Scotland
that the art of the Celts and ancient Britons has survived, carved into stone tombs
and discovered on pottery fragments and ornaments.
As the years
went by, religious scholars and monks adopted the traditions of Celtic art, creating
illuminated texts such as the Lindisfarne Gospels. Their work exemplifies the simple
sophistication of for and from their creations are drawn many of St. Justin's favorite
designs. As Christian beliefs spread across the world, the Celtic cross evolved, with
the circle that surrounds the cross symbolising the 'great wheel of life' - a belief
that is thought to pre-date Christianity. These carved stone crosses are scattered
throughout the country and are a common sight in our Churchyards and by our roadsides
today.
Celtic art reverberates through the centuries, indentified
by the simple sophistication of the form and an indefinable feeling for the rightness
of things. Modern interpretations of Celtic tradition have given us the Arts and Crafts
movement, where the ancient Celtic beliefs in elegance of form, and a reverence for the
Earth and its creatures, is apparent the in work of designers such as Charles Rennie
Mackintosh and Archibald Knox.
The result, as given form
by St. Justin in the enduring alloy of, is not only a recreation of the past, but a
continual evolving of living art, created by modern craftsman for the people of today.
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