Essex Jewelry and Antiques

1790s Antique English Georgian Sterling Silver Sugar Cube Tongs

$122.40

Presented is a fine pair of English sterling silver sugar tongs made by Thomas Oliphant of London during the late 1700s or very early 1800s. The outside of the piece is completely engraved with classical, bright-cut engravings. The inside of the top of the tongs has a reinforced piece of silver for added strength. This is an old repair..

The inside of the piece is marked with the lion passant for sterling silver, a duty mark of King George III’s head and a maker’s mark for Thomas Oliphant. I believe the Thomas Oliphant's hallmark has been stamped over another hallmark, almost certainly that of the original maker.

This pair of tongs is in good overall condition. There has been a solder repair to the arch at the top, which is why the piece of silver reinforcement was added. This repair was beautifully done and the tongs are actually stronger than when they were first made. There are no dents, no breaks, no splits, no monograms, no monogram removals and no other repairs.

The tongs measure 5 1/2 inches long and weigh 30 grams.