Historic Trappe is excited to announce the opening of its upcoming exhibition featuring over 300 objects from the Melvyn and Bette Wolf collection of American pewter, recently donated to the museum. The collection features pieces from New England to Virginia from the early 18th to late 19th centuries. Pewter: An American Story will be on view at the Center for Pennsylvania German Studies at the Dewees Tavern, 301 W. Main St., Trappe, Pa., from Friday, Aug. 29, through Sunday, Oct. 26, 2025. This special exhibition celebrates the extraordinary gift of more than 450 pieces of historic American pewter to Historic Trappe. Generously donated by Bette Wolf, this collection was assembled by Bette and her late husband, Dr. Melvyn Wolf, over 60 years. The Wolf collection is considered the finest and most comprehensive collection of American pewter ever assembled. Highlights include one of the earliest signed pieces made in the colonies, a ca. 1730 beaker by Simon Edgell of Philadelphia, and nearly two dozen pieces by William Will, one of Americas greatest pewterers. The exhibition will focus on regional pewter makers such as Thomas Boardman (1784-1873) of Connecticut, John Will (active 1752-74) of New York, Israel Trask (1786-1867) of Massachusetts, and Parks Boyd (1771-1819) of Philadelphia. Special attention will be paid to Pennsylvania pewter makers of German descent such as Johann Philip Alberti (active 1754-80), whose church pewter is renowned among collectors. Moravian pewterer Johann Christoph Heyne (1715-81) of Lancaster, Pa., will also be featured with works including a rare flask or canteen and porringer. The exhibitions scope is wide-ranging and will include a rare basin made in Richmond, Va., by Joseph Danforth Jr. (1783-1844); a porringer with dolphin handle by Samuel Danforth (1774-1816); and a traveling communion set by Rosewell Gleason (1799-1887). Other objects will include tab handle porringers, candlesticks, flagons, teapots and coffeepots, fluid lamps, chalices, beakers, sugar bowls, and creamers. The exhibition aims to tell the American and trans-Atlantic story of pewter. Immigrant pewter makers came to the colonies seeking opportunities and religious freedom but found themselves far from the source of raw materials and in competition with the products being made by English shops. Undeterred, American artisans often took old pewter and converted it into new, inventive shapes for daily use. The exhibition will give visitors a comprehensive overview of the types of wares made by pewterers as well as a look into the lives of the artisans represented by the collection. William Will, Philadelphias most illustrious pewterer, made stunning forms with careful beaded details such as those on a church flagon, whose sleek and sinuous form is a hallmark of his creative sensibilities. Will was also far more than a pewterer. He served in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, as sheriff for Philadelphia, and as the storekeeper for the Continental Army in 1779. Even with his distinguished civic duties, Will kept his pewter shop open for the duration of his lifetime. The exhibition will showcase over 20 master works by William Will, including teapots, sugar bowls, chalices, tankards, a beaker, and a porringer. To accompany the exhibition, Historic Trappe will host a pewter-themed Tavern Night event on Sunday, Sept. 28, featuring a lively evening at the Dewees Tavern with a German-style buffet dinner, dessert, wine, hard cider, and craft beer. Historic Trappe will also offer an introductory workshop led by Gamal Amer, a pewter collector and board member of the Pewter Collectors Club of America. The workshop will explore American pewter and its origins by focusing on examples from the Melvyn and Bette Wolf collection. Participants will be introduced to pewter shapes and classifications through the Wolf collection, followed by a close study and interpretation of various pewter hallmarks. Historic Trappes website will be updated with more details and dates for upcoming programming closer to the opening of the exhibition. This exhibition has been generously funded by the Pewter Collectors Club of America. Admission to the exhibition is included with regular admission to the Dewees Tavern. Additional information about the exhibition, Historic Trappe, and visiting the historic sites is available online at www.historictrappe.org, by calling 610-489-7560, and by following Historic Trappe on Facebook and @historictrappe on Instagram.