Benjamin Bickerton obtained his freedom on 6^th October 1756 and registered his first mark as a small-worker on 31^st march 1762. He went on to register other marks, including two marks as a buckle-maker in 1779 and 1789 followed by a further mark with his son, Thomas in 1791. He died in July 1808. We cannot be certain that this “BB” mark is Benjamin Bickerton. Another contender is Benjamin Brewood II. He registered marks in 1755 and 1757 as a large-worker. He appears to have been working up to about 1778 when his son Charles was apprenticed to him. He is a well known silver-smith, but a large-worker, which makes it unlikely he was making sugar tongs. We cannot rule him out, especially as the mark on these tongs is over-struck, indicating that the tongs may have been actually made by someone else.

They are a stunning pair of cast tongs, with the arms set at right angles and delicate shell bowls. They are also blessed with a motto and monogram, purported to be of the Robinson family.