Tin Woodsman Pewter was born in 1984, when Jim and Deborah Chapman's closest friends decided to shut down their pewter studio to pursue other interests. Deborah leapt at the idea of learning pewtersmithing from them and turning their business into a hobby of her own. Within three years, it was obvious that Deborah’s “hobby” was taking over the Chapman home. In time, the family became full-time pewtersmiths.

In true renaissance fashion, Jim and Deborah have brought diverse backgrounds to the company that have inspired their lives and influenced their art. Deborah holds a masters’ degree in French Literature from The University of Oregon and Jim graduated from Notre Dame University’s Great Books Program. Deborah studied abroad in Belgium, Turkey, and France. Jim volunteered for the Peace Corps in western Africa and worked for three years in Venice, Italy as a writer, translator, and guide.

Crafting pewter together has been a natural extension of their individual artistic explorations—Deborah in ceramics, and Jim in woodworking. Both have been able to meld their knowledge and experiences into the art they produce—one reason why the designs are so unique.

Twenty years later, Jim and Deborah feel blessed to work together in such a satisfying venture that allows them to express their creativity. Even their children have been involved, with the youngest de-claring (at age six) that she would be the future “boss.”

Enjoy the result of the integration of beauty and function, home and work, passion and craft, that has become The Tin Woodsman Pewter Co.