Pewter Plates – Inspired by Hamnet

In Chloé Zhao’s Hamnet, pewter plates appear as part of everyday life  – resting on rough wooden tables, catching beeswax candlelight, and bearing the marks of use. Production designer Fiona Crombie and set decorator Alice Felton chose pewter for its quiet realism: practical, durable and softly reflective in low light.

Before porcelain and fine china became commonplace, pewter was the material of the ordinary table. Neither precious like silver nor disposable like wood or earthenware, it occupied a useful middle ground — valued for its weight, warmth and adaptability. Over time, pewter develops a gentle patina shaped by handling rather than polishing, making each piece subtly individual.

On a contemporary table, pewter still works beautifully. Its muted grey surface pairs naturally with linen, timber and candlelight, lending a sense of ceremony. 

They also invite a little theatricality at home. Set a Hamnet-inspired table with beeswax candles, and let the material itself help create a mood of intimacy and ritual — a table designed for gathering, not showing off.

Care & Use: Pewter is soft, forgiving and pleasant to handle. It won’t chip like porcelain and cleans easily with warm soapy water. 

Quiet, tactile and rooted in everyday life, pewter plates bring a small but meaningful piece of Hamnet’s domestic world into the modern home — objects shaped not by ornament, but by use.

Note: Modern Pewter (Lead-Free): Safe for daily use. Modern items are typically stamped or labeled as “lead-free”.
Antique/Old Pewter: Likely contains lead, which can cause lead poisoning. It should be used for decorative purposes only.

Find yours at Vinterior or Etsy