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FEATURED WEBSITES

International Study Centre for the History of Cities
http://www.storiadellacitta.it
Alessandro Camiz, Ph.D. candidate in History of Cities, University of Rome “La Sapienza”

The internet site of the International Study Centre for the History of Cities, directed by Enrico Guidoni, online since 2001, collects information and records scientific researche on the History of Cities and Territory in Italy with a particular focus on the Middle Ages. The site is published in Italian, though a general translation in English is scheduled to appear in late 2005. The name of the site reflects the publication, Storia della Città. , Electa editrice, founded and directed by Enrico Guidoni in 1976 and the Ph.D. program in History of cities (Dottorato di Ricerca in Storia della Città, Dipartimento di Architettura e Analisi della Città, Università degli studi di Roma “La Sapienza”), which has been active since 1995 and is coordinated by Prof. Enrico Guidoni.

The site is designed for scholars and researchers. It shows an internationally-known method of scientific research that has experimented (within the Faculty of Architecture “Valle Giulia”) with new methods in understanding the history of human settlements within a wide open, interdisciplinary approach. These research methods of research, rooted in a decennial tradition, do not adhere to a particular vision of the History of Cities as a General History (political, economical and social). Rather, the central focus concerns the material transformations of cities and the history of urban design considered together with the history of architectural and artistic design. The belief that each document has to be localized in a precise space and time to be correctly understood is the starting point for an innovative interpretation of the urban organism and its form. Only if applied to spatial, environmental, artistic and archaeological domains, can history be useful in preserving historical centres and landscapes, while fulfilling an innovative cultural and disciplinary acquisition. The site is divided into sections; each reflecting a different sector of activities. Here is a brief description of the most important sections:

- Historical Centres. This section hosts proposals useful for the preservation of landscapes, historical centres, historical environments, and all the portions of our territories that are potential victims due to a misunderstood modernity.

-University. This portion presents a complete and updated review of the courses in History of Town Planning taught by Italian faculty in architecture and humanities departments.

- Regions and Cities. This contains a very useful and detailed bibliography on history of cities in Italy organized by region.

- Methods and Research. This section forms the core of the site and is useful for historical research on the material configuration of the cities and the reconstruction of the design processes within the context of their correct historical perspectives.

- Cities – Middle Ages. History of town planning and archaeology are the two opposite disciplines that meet in the study of medieval cities in Italy. This section, organized by Elisabetta De Minicis, invites and promotes research proposals using this perspective, such as the book series Civitates, edited by Bonsignori, published since 1999.

- Ph.D. in the History of Cities. This section lists Ph.D. candidates, their tutors, their theses, and it indexes their published works.

- Atlases. This section illustrates each edition of the Atlante Storico delle Città Italiane (various editors, since 1986).

- Associations. Storia della Città is also an association formed by more than 100 researchers in Italy and Europe, who specialize in the history of cities.

- Town Planning History. This section focuses on the volumes of Storia dell'urbanistica, edizioni Kappa, Rome, published since 1979.

- Information. Bibliographical news with the complete index of each book presented is published here. An important section is also dedicated to the Conferences organized by the association, such as the Punti di vista e vedute di città Congress, now in its IV and V sessions dedicated to XIX and XX centuries, introduced by Ugo Soragni and Antonella Greco in Rome on April 5th.

- Archival sources. Edited by Donato Tamblé, this section features information on the methods for archival research with particular reference to the State Archive of Rome and other Historical Archives in Italy.

- Vetralla, Museum of the City and of the Territory. The Museum, established in 1992, is an experiment in a new type of museum dedicated to the territory of the Tuscany and its archaeological discoveries. In 1998, an association called "Vetralla città d'arte" was started within the museum, to protect and enhance the historical, artistic and environmental heritage of the city of Vetralla.

- Finally the site highlights Tesoro delle Città,Strenna della Associazione Storia della Città, the annual publication reserved for the members of the most important Italian association of scholars in History of cities and territory, i.e. the International Study Centre for the History of Cities, founded in 1986 and directed by Prof. Enrico Guidoni. Beginning in 2003, forty papers have been published (in first and second editions). These papers reflect the intriguing interests and new methods of the authors, who are mostly young scholars in history of town planning and medieval archaeology.

The Pewter Society
http://www.pewtersociety.org

The Society’s objectives

The Pewter Society exists to stimulate interest in and appreciation of pewter and the many objects, both utilitarian and decorative, made from this remarkable metal. It does this by:

- encouraging research into the history, manufacture and social context;

- disseminating information through meetings, publications, exhibitions and other appropriate activities;

- advising on its care and conservation.

Whilst our membership includes several leading museums and institutions, most of our members are collectors, some with large and varied collections, others with more modest and specialised ones.

Meetings

The Society has two two-day meetings a year, held at varying locations around the UK and running from Saturday lunchtime through to Sunday lunchtime. There are several talks at each meeting. In addition, there is an opportunity for members to show and discuss their recent acquisitions, and to seek advice on pieces of uncertainty. There is also an auction to allow members to sell surplus items from their collections.

Our AGM is held on a Saturday in January in the Pewterers’ Hall in London, and is followed by a short meeting with one or two talks. This is also an excellent opportunity to see the Worshipful Company of Pewterers’ fine collection of both old and new pewter.

In addition, we will normally have one other event during the year, such as a visit to a museum or a joint meeting with a sister society in another country.

Publications

We publish an illustrated Journal twice a year containing articles on pewter and its makers. Most of these articles are based on research conducted by our members. For example, there have been articles on Roman pewter, 19th century pewter ice moulds, pewterers recorded in insurance records and fake marks. Copies of the Journal are lodged in a number of libraries.

Left: A 15 mm high pewter pilgrim souvenir in the form of a vall vearing the inscription 'GRATIA PLENA D(EO)': excavated from Butler's Wharf in London. Right: A pewter pilgrim or retainer's badge with twin ostrich feathers above the word 'AMORE'.

We also publish a Newsletter twice a year. This contains reports of meetings, items of news and reports on sales of pewter.

Finally, we have published a number of books or booklets. These have covered a range of subjects, such as Irish Pewter, books on European pewter marks, London pewterers and candlesticks of the Baroque period. More publications are in the pipeline, and we are also compiling a comprehensive electronic Database of British pewterers.

Reference material

The Society has an extensive library of books and other material on British, Continental European and American pewter. It also maintains a reference collection of fakes, and a collection of photographs of examples of antique pewter.

Web site

We have a web site located at www.pewtersociety.org. This includes a glossary, a simple guide to the various types of pewter marks, a list of our publications, pewter collections that you can visit and other useful information.

Sources of information

The following is a small selection of books about pewter. Some are out-of-print, but most are available as secondhand copies or found in libraries.

An Introduction to British Pewter by David Moulson & Alex Neish, Brewin 1997. A good introduction. ISBN 1 85858 102 8.

Pewter by Charles Hull - no. 280 in the Shire Album series (1992). A short but useful summary. ISBN 0 7478 0152 5.

Pewter of Great Britain by Christopher Peal, Gifford 1983. A good, and rather fuller, general guide. Not in print.

Pewter of the Western World by Peter Hornsby, Schiffer 1983. An invaluable reference book, with nearly 1300 illustrations. ISBN 0 916838 83 8.

Pewter Wares from Sheffield by Jack L Scott, Antiquary Press (Baltimore) 1980. The standard reference work for Britannia metal wares. Not in print.

To identify marks on UK pewter, the two most useful books are:

Old Pewter, its Makers and Marks by H H Cotterell, Batsford 1929 (and later reprints). The collector’s bible to makers’ marks, though not infallible. Not in print.

Marks and Marking of Weights and Measures of the British Isles by Carl Ricketts, 1996. ISBN 0 9528533 02. A guide to verification marks.

The Museum of Pewter at Harvard House in Stratford-upon-Avon (F +44 (0)1789 204016) has one of the finest and most varied collections of antique pewter in the UK. Other museums in the UK and elsewhere with displays of old pewter are listed on our Web site.

Membership

There are three membership categories:

(1) Associate Membership (£25), for those who want to receive our publications but do not expect to participate actively in the Society or attend meetings regularly (eg because they live outside the UK). A single subscription can cover two people at the same address. Associate Members and their partners can attend meetings occasionally on payment of a small surcharge, but do not have the right to vote.

(2) Full Membership (£32), for those who expect to participate actively in the Society - eg by attending meetings regularly. The subscription only covers one person.

(3) Joint Membership (£40) - as for Full Membership, but covering two people at the same address.

How to apply

If you are interested in pewter and would like to join the Society, please e-mail or write to the Secretary. Make sure you indicate which membership category you are interested in. Also, if you have a collection (however modest) or particular interest, please let us know. <P< Your subscription should preferably be paid by sterling cheque made payable to The Pewter Society. If you are unable to pay in sterling, we can accept payment online by Pay Pal, by foreign currency cheque or by direct bank transfer. If payment is made by one of the latter methods, a small surcharge may be added to cover any extra costs. Please contact the Secretary or visit our Web site for further details.

The Secretary is Peter Hayward, Llananant Farm, Penallt, Monmouth NP25 4AP, United Kingdom:
F +44 (0)1600 712864
fax: +44 (0)870 167 4633
e-mail: secretary@pewtersociety.org

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