Vintage 1930s W & Co Homeland Pewter Lidded Canister with Artichoke Finial

Vintage 1930s W & Co Homeland Hand-Hammered Pewter Lidded Canister

A wonderfully characterful English pewter lidded canister, made by Walker & Company of Sheffield under their Homeland Pewter trade name during the 1930s.

The cylindrical body has been given a beautifully tactile hand-hammered or planished finish, creating the softly dimpled surface so closely associated with Arts and Crafts metalware. Its restrained form also has a hint of early Art Deco styling, while the removable circular lid is topped with a particularly attractive cast artichoke finial.

The canister stands upon a broad, gently stepped base that gives it a pleasingly solid appearance. It was probably originally intended as a sweet, biscuit or general-purpose storage jar, although today it would work beautifully as a decorative container, desk tidy or characterful addition to an Arts and Crafts-inspired interior.

The underside bears the worn but recognisable mark:

W & Co – English Pewter – Hand Hammered – Homeland – 7032

The number 7032 is the manufacturer’s pattern or model number.

Maker history

Homeland Pewter was a trademark used by Walker & Company of Sheffield, a firm founded in 1907. According to the Pewter Society’s record of twentieth-century British marks, Walker & Company produced its Homeland range from approximately 1930 until around 1940, placing this example firmly within the interwar period.

Sheffield was one of Britain’s great centres of metalworking, and Homeland wares were created as attractive domestic alternatives to silver. Their hammered surfaces and sculptural forms reflected the continuing influence of the Arts and Crafts movement while also appealing to the cleaner tastes of the 1930s.

Condition

In good vintage condition with a rich, naturally darkened patina. There are surface scratches, rubbing, tarnishing and marks consistent with age and previous use, particularly around the base and inside. The underside carries heavier oxidation and wear, although the maker’s mark remains identifiable. The lid sits in place correctly and the artichoke finial is intact.

It has deliberately not been highly polished, preserving the wonderfully atmospheric aged finish. Due to its age and unknown pewter composition, it is best regarded as a decorative container rather than being used for unwrapped food.

Suggested selling price: £45

Comparable Homeland pieces vary considerably, with simpler tea wares often offered between roughly £30, while more decorative or unusual forms command higher prices. A comparable Homeland hammered candy jar has recently been advertised at around £48; the larger sculptural form, complete lid and unusual artichoke finial justify positioning this example at £45,

Vintage 1930s W & Co Homeland Pewter Lidded Canister with Artichoke Finial