On this page l have put photographs of different engavings on some of the Tongs l have, l feel that these are also part of Social History. During the period these tongs were made Society was changing, more people had wealth, Furnishings were more elborate, names which are still important today such as Chippendale and Hepplewhite were making funiture which today still commands a high price. Silver also was a show of wealth, and what better way to show it off then the social event of Tea drinking, Silver Tea caddies,Tea Pots, Milk Jugs, Sugar Bowls and of course the humble Sugar Tongs. ltems will be added This one on a pair of Stephen Adams Tongs, l am not sure what it signifies Marriage Betroathals had three letters,the top one the first intial of the surname and the two underneath the first letter of the christian name, and sometimes a mark between the two. This is quite a normal engraving of a marriage bethroathal, but what is unusual is where it is engraved, on this pair of wonderful Daniel Bates Tongs, the cartouche is blank, but this is engraved on the inside of the arms,looking at what is quite a crude engraving maybe the engraver did not have the skill to put it on the cartouche, who knows ?  A normal wedding bethroal with an arrow ,for some reason the engraver put them to read "sideways" A charming bethroal with date on a fine pair of Tongs by Thomas Eustace of Exeter This one on a good pair by William Harrison 1st is different by the way the arrows are pointing down, it has been suggested that the V between the l and M could be a "Von" and the arrows are pointing down to indicate that the M and l are the first names and the surname is "von m------ " This is an unusual engraving, it is on a pair of unknown makers tongs it appears to be A over S I n or is it S I L ? This is on a pair by Thomas Wallis 1st, it is unusual and does it signify the owners name ? |