This is an interesting mark. It was common that a wife would enter her own maker’s mark after her husband died. James Stamp was Frances’ husband and died on 11th April 1780. It is then believed that Frances carried on for a short time, to wind up the business. The business was run by James Sutton and James Bult, (at 86 Cheapside), from 7th July 1780, when James Sutton entered a mark at that address. These silver sugar tongs must therefore be dated between 11th April 1780 and 7th July 1780 as Frances Stamp will only have been operating for that short time.

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