The collection is especially rich in continental pieces, and the book features an important series of German guild cups as well as some outstanding late 16th-century French pewter. Both secular and religious works are included, ranging from the late Middle Ages to the present day. Outlining methods of manufacture and tracing the development of the pewter trade, the full introduction also gives a brief history of the V andA collection. The book contains over 200 illustrations, examining many of the pieces in detail and including important inscriptions and marks, while contemporary paintings and engravings place pewter production in historical context. The text is arranged in thematic chapters, such as domestic pewter and 20th-century works, and also features a short section on fakes.