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How Kuehn Products are Developed

The Idea

The Kuehn Concept team brings an abundance of new ideas to paper.  Many suggestions come from our own customers! Or we  develop them from current trends. We constantly draft the sketches, until the best draft remains.

After the draft a 'positive' template is made, a ' negative'  form is then produced. This procedure is quite popular today since it permits the production of new forms from the existing model since the molds deteriorate quite rapidly.

The Material

Kuehn products are manufactured from tin 93% according to DIN EN 611-1 (see the Pewter Primer). Tin is a high-quality and harmless metal, which can even be certified for food containers.   And Kuehn production methods over the last several decades have constantly improved quality. The remaining 7% is copper and antimony. They are used for hardening the soft tin.

Hand Casting

The mold usually consists of two symmetrical parts. The tin is carefully poured with a spoon into the form at about 300C.  Slow or fast casting is necessary depending upon the motive. Also the temperature of the mold must be exactly correct.

After cooling, the perfect rendition is released from the form, cleaned, pre-ground and darkened in a bath of weak acid.  The correct effect is reached through repeated polishing in several processing steps.

Hand Painting

Now painting follows.  It is tedious, detailed work done by hand. For this there are no robots or technical aids. Each piece is painted with the finest brushes. The painter has over 30 colours before her and she can mix further tones.  For this work one needs patience, calm hands, good eyes and occasionally a large magnifying glass!

Please regard a finished pewter ornament completely.  Estimate the time which must be spent for careful painting and you will soon be able to discern the careful craftsmanship that is a Kuehn pewter gift!

Kuehn pewter ornaments and figures are sent throughout the world.  Their catalog is huge.  If you have any speciall needs, please do not hesitate to call us or request a catalog. 

The text and photographs are used with the kind permission of Horst Kuehn Metallwaren.

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