Microstructures forming in the Cu-Sn system with alloy compositions close to the metatectic composition are characterized. A careful experimental procedure with a variety of holding temperatures and cooling rates allows for unambiguous interpretation of the solidified microstructures. The decay of the high-temperature gamma-phase according to the metatectic reaction gamma ->epsilon+liquid could not be suppressed even by the highest available quenching rates. Different microstructural features are observed concerning the secondary epsilon-phase. For low and moderate cooling rates, epsilon is growing ill columnar grains, surrounded by peritectic eta-phase. For rapid quenching, secondary epsilon partially remelts and exhibits fine globulitic particles of eta. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.