The first major study of pewter moulds is Lee (2009). Moulds produced jugs, bowls, dishes and ?plates and production can be dated to the 3rd-4th century AD. Moulds occur across Britain, mostly on rural sites.
Distribution
Moulds are found across Britain with a focus in the Mendip region (Lee 2015) with early pewter production occurring in urban centres but the majority of moulds coming from villa sites.
Forms
Shallow dish moulds, in open and bipartite forms, have been identified for casting shallow dishes or plates, plates with beaded footrings that might collectively match Peal (1967) forms 1, 2-2c and 3. Moulds for producing a range of jug components are known but no forms can be ascribed to these moulds (Lee 2009, 38-40). Moulds are known that produced a deep dish or bowl. Of especial note are forms of flange and beaded bowls, angular bowls and bowls with everted walls and pan and patera moulds. However, the only forms that might come from any of the identified moulds are Peal's (1967) type A, 4c(i) and Peal's (1967) angular dishes 4; 4d(i)-4d(ii).
Chronology
Pewter production seems to have occurred in 3rd century AD, or earlier, urban contexts, but the evidence remains unclear. Certainly 3rd-4th century production can be noted in urban centres, for example Silchester. Villa production also occurred in the 3rd-4th century.
References
Lee, R. 2009. The Production, Use and Disposal of Romano-British Pewter Tableware. Oxford: Archaeopress.
Peal, C. 1967. Romano-British pewter plates and dishes. Proceedings of the Cambridge Antiquarian Society, 60, 19-37.