Given all the discussion of lead and such, thought I'd mention that Lijsbet told me about test kits such as these: http://www.leadinspector.com/?gclid=CIPCz7rjzocCFRieWAodGjNFbQ So if you find a really cool pewter piece at the thrift store and you just can't pass it up, you can at least make sure it's food safe before you use it! Arwen