Crafting pewter jewellery, ornaments and housewares by hand, Amos Pewter has been operating for half a century. What started as a small operation in an old workshop has expanded to multiple locations across Canada’s east coast. Still headquartered in Nova Scotia, Amos Pewter now sells products across the globe.

Getting crafty

The beginning of Amos Pewter dates back to the 1970s when Greg and Suzanne Amos began studying pewter smithing from notable craftsman Dr. Ivan Crowell in New Brunswick. Wanting to set out on their own, Greg and Suzanne travelled to Nova Scotia and fell in love with the beauty of Mahone Bay on the province’s southern shore. In 1974, they acquired an old boat-building shop on the town’s waterfront and converted it into a workspace and store for their pewter creations. And their namesake business was born.

The couple started with handmaking bowls, mugs, goblets, jewellery and Christmas ornaments. As their business grew, so did their product line and locations.

Growth & expansion

Greg and Suzanne expanded the original Amos Pewter location in 1999 and added a space where customers could see pieces made by hand and a history of pewter-making. In 2006, they decided to sell the business to Don and Lynn Sheehan, who had experience with pewter.

Keen to grow Amos Pewter’s retail locations, the new owners soon established a brand presence at Halifax’s Cruise Pavillion 22 and opened a second shop in Halifax on the waterfront in 2010. About two years later they expanded outside the province for the first time, opening a store in Charlottetown, P.E.I. and a fifth location in 2013 in Peggy’s Cove, N.S.

Making traditions

Over time, Amos Pewter’s product line expanded to include a variety of jewellery and accessories, serving dishes, picture frames, small sculptures, wall décor and more. The brand’s annual holiday ornament has also become a tradition for many families to collect each year.

David Christoffel, lead designer, says the inspiration for new products often comes from nature. Many moulds have been made from leaves, shells and other items plucked from the province’s natural environment. He also explains that Amos consistently pushes the envelope in its artisanship. For example, it has set semi-precious stones and crystals in many jewellery pieces (a more complicated process than glueing them). To celebrate its 50th anniversary the brand has released special products this year including gold versions of popular past pieces.

In the family

Fifty years later, Amos Pewter continues to operate in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia and now has six locations across Atlantic Canada including a new pop-up in the Halifax Shopping Centre. Online sales also give the brand a worldwide reach. Amos has shipped products to every continent aside from Antarctica.

Christoffel says the future for Amos Pewter appears bright with Don and Lynn Sheehan’s three sons already starting to be involved in the family business. “It’s very gratifying to see how enthusiastic they are and how much love they have for what we do,” he commented.

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