silfren.com
DESCRIPTION Georgian silver cast and pierced arm sugar tongs with a crest and foliate engraved bow. Although twenty years too early to be dodgers of the tax on silver reintroduced in 1784, these tongs should have the makers mark and lion passant guardant. The assay has been avoided, perhaps to avoid the cost and trouble, and an unregistered mark struck twice. Grimwades has a little on this mark but Pickford in his Silver Flatware 1660-1980 has much more, see page 41 and page 200 for the tongs.
SILVERSMITH Thomas and William Chawner.
DATE or HALLMARK circa 1765
ASSAY OFFICE London
WEIGHT in GRAMS 49
LENGTH in INCHES 5 ½
SILVER STANDARD not marked
OVERALL CONDITION The shoulders are slightly bent, one arm has three repairs consisting of silver plates soldered to the inside.
back £100 sold item number: M1533