What is a whitesmith?

A whitesmith, like a tinsmith, works with metal. Unlike a blacksmith, a whitesmith would not typically have to heat up the metals to high temperatures to work with them. A whitesmith would normally use solder to add handles onto cups or pitchers. It is called a whitesmith because the metals would be lighter and the goal was to make pewter and other metals look like silver when providing a finished product. In addition to cups, they would make plates, utensils, lamps, candleholders and other household items. There were three stages to becoming a whitesmith: first the person would have to complete an apprenticeship, making simple items, then as a journeyman they would make more complex creations and the last stage was master whitesmith. Each stage lasted four to six years.