Berea, Kentucky, often called the arts and crafts capital of the state, holds a special place in my heart for its rich history and dedication to creativity. During a recent visit, I had the pleasure of meeting a remarkable individual who embodies that spirit: Ken Gastineau. For over 30 years, Ken has been mastering the delicate craft of pewter turning, a tradition deeply connected to his English ancestors.
As Ken shared with me, “My ancestors were craftspeople in the Middle Ages. They settled in England in the early 1600s, and pewter, along with metal spinning, is a very English art.” It’s fascinating to think that some of the same techniques used centuries ago are still being practiced today, right here in Kentucky, where Ken’s talents shine.
What makes Ken's craft even more special is its connection to Kentucky's bourbon and horse racing heritage. “People still use traditional julep cups to make mint juleps,” Ken explained as he worked on one of these timeless pieces. Watching him spin the metal into these beautiful shapes was mesmerizing.
Ken is one of only a few artists in the United States still working with pewter, a craft that dates back to the colonial era in America. It’s rare to find someone so devoted to an art that’s been passed down through generations, and as he explained, pewter turning is not something many people are learning to do anymore.
During our conversation, Ken demonstrated the process of turning a flat sheet of pewter into a beautifully crafted cup. It was incredible to see how a flexible piece of metal could become something so solid and refined. “People always think this weighs more than it does,” Ken said, referring to one of his finished mugs. “But actually, it weighs less because I trimmed off a few grams.”
Ken’s technique is fascinating. He begins by centering the pewter sheet on the lathe and then uses a wooden stick to guide the metal into shape. “We use our body weight, which is why the stick is so long. The real work happens with the legs, and the arms are just guiding the tool,” Ken explained. The process is cold, with only the friction of spinning causing the metal to heat up.
As the pewter took shape, I marveled at how perfectly smooth and seamless the cup was. “You’d think there would be folds or creases, but no, we reintegrate the surface area into itself,” Ken said, explaining the precision required to maintain the thickness of the cup’s sidewalls.
I was also curious about what pewter actually is, and Ken explained that it’s an alloy called Britannia metal. Made of 92% tin, 6% antimony, and 2% copper, Britannia metal contains no lead—a common misconception about pewter. It’s fascinating to think that this alloy was first developed by a Frenchman in the 1700s and has since become a cornerstone of traditional craftsmanship.
Watching Ken transform a simple pewter sheet into a fully formed cup with nothing but a wooden stick, body weight, and decades of expertise was truly awe-inspiring. “That’s amazing how we do it,” he said as he handed me the finished cup, still warm from the friction of the spinning process.
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