Georgian silver tea tongs (sugar tongs, sugar nips) - England
The tea tongs (called also sugar tongs or sugar nips) were used for lifting sugar pieces added to tea cups.
About 1720 this artefacts assumed a scissors shape, succeeded after 1770 by more functional bow type tongs.This pair of plain and simple fashion tea tongs have tapering shafts, C scroll arms, simple scallop grips and are monogrammed I and P on the ring cushions.
They have the 'lion passant' of the shape in use between 1750-1755, while silversmith's marks are partly rubbed (maybe WH into a rectangular punch). Uncommonly the marks are placed inside the grips (usually they were on the finger rings).
These tea tongs are 4 1/3 in. long (cm. 11,1), weigh 1.09 oz (31 gr.) and were bought from an US dealer through the Internet.
This item is not for sale, but most of my pieces were bought through the Internet. On the right bar of this page there are some links to silver and antique dealers websites
A wide article about tea tongs and informations on this book are available on ASCAS Association of Small Collectors of Antique Silver website
www.silvercollection.it ©