Unusual 18th C Old Sheffield? Plate Sugar Tongs
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75
For sale is an unusual pair of early silver sugar tongs of unknown origin, possibly Old Sheffield Plate. The tongs are 6 inches long and weigh 50 grams. The grips vary, with one shell grip and one claw. The arms are cast, with piercing and decoration. The bend is flat, with nice bright-cut engraving. The tongs have a crest of a winged griffin with one foot on an orb. There are no marks at all. There are a couple of places where there seems to be copper showing through, and they seem stiffer than sterling, so I suspect they may be fused plate.
Condition on the tongs is fair. There are solder joints where the arms meet the bend, which may be original or repairs or both. There is also a repair in the center of one arm, not shown. Regardless, an unusual old piece!
