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Corroded cast aluminum versus cast pewter

Q. I have three antique wall sconce back plates that appear to be cast aluminum, but may be a thin cast pewter. They have a dull, hammered finish. There is pitting and what appears to be corrosive powder around the pitting. How can I tell which metal I'm dealing with, and how may I restore them?

Yvonne Angus
- Jacksonville, Florida

A. If it has white corrosion, it may be aluminum. If it's not whitish, then it still maybe pewter. I have two similar items and that's how I found this question. Pewter is usually stamped as pewter. There is britanna or something like that, it's like pewter but shinier.

Wolfe Hendrixon
- Glassboro, New Jersey, USA
February 4, 2013

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