Answering the phone in August 2007, Thomas Eyck recognised the voice on the other end of the line: Henk Zwartebol, the managing director of Tingieterij Leerdam, the company producing Eyck’s first collection for Milan’s Salone del Mobile. ‘We have to stop,’ snapped Zwartebol. ‘People don’t like pewter, you will sell nothing!’ ‘That’s my problem, just keep making the pieces,’ replied Eyck.