Unique Hacienda Real Mexican Pewter Serving Tray. Half the top has a hammered, alligator skin-like design, and the other is smooth. Initialed "HR" on bottom, for Hacienda Real, a Mexican pewter company founded in Guadalajara in 1995. They began as a small foundry workshop with only 4 employees, and have since grown to over 100 employees serving countries all over the world. They aspire to high quality standards, contribute to social justice efforts, and focus heavily on community engagement, seeing themselves as representatives not just of Mexico but their city to their clientele in the United States, Europe, and Central America.

Size: 24 1/4 x 17 1/4 in. 

#4391 . 

"Mexican pewter" (Estaño in Spanish) is the name for a distinct alloy that bears little resemblance to traditional European pewter, which contains high quantities of lead and is produced by a different process. It was developed in the 1980s by a collective of Mexican metalworkers who were seeking a durable alternative to precious metals that would not tarnish. It is composed of aluminum, copper, and silica, with silver occasionally added in, depending on the maker. Mexican pewter is fired in sand molds, and each item is individually hand cast and carefully polished by local artisans to create a brilliant finish that is reminiscent of silver. With a much more reasonable price point, it has become a popular alternative to sterling silverware in much of the New World. It can be used in an oven as well as kept in the refrigerator, can be cleaned with simple soap and water, and has been approved by the government for a maximum temperature of 573 degrees Fahrenheit, making it incredibly versatile for food service. In addition to tableware, it is being increasingly used by artisans throughout Mexico to create decorative items like lamps, mirrors, chandeliers and much more.