DESCRIPTION |
A scarce pair of 'duty dodger' cast arm Georgian silver sugar tongs with crested and foliate engraved shoulders. Although twenty years too early to be dodgers of the tax on silver reintroduced in 1784, these tongs should have the makers mark and lion passant guardant. The assay has been avoided, perhaps to avoid the cost and trouble, and an unregistered mark struck twice. Grimwades has a little on this mark but Pickford in his Silver Flatware 1660-1980 has much more, see page 41 and page 200 for the tongs. | ||
| ARTIST or SILVERSMITH |
Thomas and William Chawner. It appears that they had good reason not to register this particular mark! | ||
| DATE or HALLMARK |
circa 1765 | ||
| ASSAY OFFICE or COUNTRY |
London | ||
WEIGHT in GRAMS |
49 | ||
| SIZE in INCHES |
length: 5 1/2 |
|
|
| SILVER STANDARD if applicable |
not marked | ||
| OVERALL CONDITION |
The shoulders are slightly bent. One arm has three sophisticated repairs consisting of silver plates soldered to the inside. There is some scratching to the inside of one of the bowls as if a personal assay has been done. | ||
| MAJOR FAULTS |
none | ||
MINOR FAULTS |
none | ||
|
Price £100 |
SOLD |
BACK | Item Number: M1533 |
