This Site is for pictures of my collection of 18th -century cast sugar tongs (and other items of Silver from various ages)
l have put them in alphabetical order.Some have no makers mark and are in the unknown section
lf you have any ideas or comments on these unknown makers please let me know
There are several different styles of cast tongs with some very elaborate, and others quite plain .
l must admit though to me they are all pieces of English history, and l find for each pair to have survived for 250 years is wonderful
. Cast Sugar Tongs were made in the mid- to late 18th- century. To give an exact date is difficult so a guide would be 1760 when they replaced Tea-Tongs using a scissor action.
Cast tongs were made from three pieces with the bow and two legs which were cast from a mould; the bow and legs were soldered together. Because of this construction a lot of cast tongs have not survived,and many which have survived have been repaired
18th Century cast tongs are quite rare; tongs which have had no repairs are very rare and can command a good price.
Cast tongs began to be replaced from about 1785 by tongs shaped from a solid piece of silver
Cast tongs are delicate some of the pairs in this collection, have been repaired. To own a pair which are free from repairs is, sadly, quite a rare thing but a few pairs in this collection are in near-mint condition
As more tongs arrive l will expand the site.
New Section
Makers Marks
l have started to place the makers marks, from the entries at Goldsmiths Hall of the makers of the cast tongs on this site, plus other makers which are mentioned on these pages, such as partners, apprentice masters or apprentice's
l hope other's might find this usefull, and also to show that the identity of the makers is not always easy.
l am sure some of my William Chatterton tongs, should be ascribed to William Goslee