Georgian Sterling Sugar Tongs by Hester Bateman.

Here is a very fine sample of her work. Very fine bright-cut decoration on the shanks terminating in acorn-shaped tips. Bears a contemporary monogram 'S' or 'T'. Marked with the maker's mark, Lion Passant for sterling and the Sovereign's Head. There is no Date Letter which is quite acceptable for smaller 18th century articles, though this piece can be dated to 1784/85 by the shape of the Sovereign's Head. This shape was in use between December 1784 and May 1785. The Sovereign's Head, in its various forms, was a mark to show that duty had been paid on the article bearing it. This was an additional tax that was levied between 1st December 1784 and 30th April 1890. According to some reference books it was introduced to cover the costs of the American Revolutionary War and, like many taxes, just clung on.