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 is a pair of tea tongs of ornate design with S scroll arms, circular interlocking box hinge covered by a hinge plate, oval shafts and pointed trilobe grips.
They have on both the finger rings the lion passant assay mark and the shaped WH punch with two indentations on the base of silversmith William Harrison I, about 1758 and a modern inscription 'Susan' on the hinge.
These tea tongs are 5 in. long (cm. 12,6), weigh 1.55 oz (44 gr.) and were bought from an UK 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
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