Two pairs (inc right angled pair) On these tongs they have a makers mark which l cannot be certain who the maker is, it could be a later mark made by Joseph Steward ll or John Smith ll, these makers punches are very close to the mark on these tongs. l think the closest match is Joseph Savory lst, apprenticed to James Hunt 2nd July 1760, free 3rd February 1768, first mark entered as a smallworker 31st January 1772. These tongs have been repaired a couple of times where there appears to be a weak point at the centre of the arms, what makes these tongs unusual is the mongram engraved on the bow which appears to be a hand with two fingers raised, (see here) l do not know what this signifies, and it does seem an old engraving which matches the period of the tongs. 
Right Angled Tongs These pair are another example of rare right angled tongs, there condition is very good, the only flaw is a small repair on the inside of the bow which cannot be seen from the outside, l have also attributed this pair to Joseph Savory 1st but the punch is slighty different then on the above pair, there appears to be a flaw on it, what is intresting is that on Graham Hodges website www.silversugartongs.com, there are a pair of cast tongs also attributed to Joseph Savory 1st with the same flaw in the punch |