Meet Callum Olive, Wentworth Pewter’s work experience star

POSTED NOVEMBER 9, 2017

When Freeman College approached us to see if one of their students, Callum Olive could join us for work experience, we were delighted to welcome him on board. Callum wants to be a metalsmith and a jeweller. Working here one day a week for the next year, our factory floor is the perfect place for him to learn about the traditional techniques our craftsmen use for making handcrafted pieces in pewter.

Learning the craft of pewtersmithing

At Freeman College Callum’s been learning everything from metal preparation, casting, stamping, finishing and buffing. Here at Wentworth Pewter he’s been able to get experience of using our machinery and applying his metalsmithing techniques in a real, workplace setting. It takes years to refine these ancient skills, but Callum has a wonderful enthusiasm as well as talent and a great work ethic. All these things make him an apprentice to be proud of. What’s more he’s helped to produce some fine-looking pewter tankards and pewter quaichs along the way.

Callum says:

“It’s opened my eyes to how a workshop producing handcrafted pewter gifts deals with the business side of things and specific roles. I really enjoy my apprenticeship, not just stamping and casting, the whole experience is fantastic.”

Richard, Wentworth Pewter explains:

“The pewter industry needs young people to keep our heritage skills alive. Pewtersmithing has been around for hundreds of years, but we’re now one of the last remaining factories in the world, let alone the UK. So we’re delighted to welcome Callum to the pewtersmith’s bench and pass on our knowledge to such a budding metalsmith. Plus he’s the nicest young man you’ll ever meet, which is always a bonus!”

Check out Calllum’s gorgeous pieces

Callum is already putting his metalsmithing techniques to good use as you can see by some of the stunning pieces he’s produced and cast for himself below including table ware and jewellery in silver and copper (top left to right) and a handmade pewter chess set and chess pieces (bottom left to right). We’ll be putting some of these on Santa’s wish list this year: