André Utin Pewter Plate, Vevey (c. 1736–1771)

This mid-18th-century pewter plate was made by the Swiss pewterer Pierre-André Utin (1688–1771) of Vevey, on the shores of Lake Geneva. The reverse bears his distinctive circular touchmark of a standing lion surrounded by the legend ANDRE UTIN, accompanied by a secondary crowned “H” within a laurel wreath—likely a regional quality or assay mark—and the lightly struck owner’s initials “CK.” Utin, received as master around 1715–1736, was one of the more accomplished pewterers working in the Canton of Vaud, and examples of his work are held in Swiss collections and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The plate measures approximately 22–24 cm in diameter and weighs 475 grams. It has a broad, gently molded rim and a shallow well that shows the expected dense network of utensil scratches from long domestic use, along with scattered oxidation spots. Despite the honest wear of nearly three centuries, the piece remains structurally sound with clearly legible marks, making it a well-documented and characteristic example of everyday Swiss provincial pewter from the period.

Maker Echo