Terrine with melon

Tinsmithery was a craft that dealt with the production of vessels and other functional objects from tin and its alloys. The material was durable and aesthetically pleasing, and was used in the production of decorative items for churches, castles and the homes of the wealthy bourgeoisie. Over time, a number of unconventional tin everyday-use items were also built, such as water or milk jugs for storing water and warming pans for heating bed linen. In the Pomeranian region, one of the more thriving guilds of tinsmithers was located in Szczecin, with over 100 craftsmen professionally engaged in this trade between the 15th and mid-19th centuries. One of these was Andreas Oestmann, a native of Karlskrona, Sweden, who was granted the civil rights of Szczecin on 30 July 1756. As a citizen of the city, he made many different kinds of objects, among which was the featured pewter terrine of very striking form, imitating silverware. Corresponding objects may be found in the collections of the National Museum in Gdańsk (a slightly smaller edition), as well as the National Museum in Warsaw. Anna Lew-Machniak