One can never be sure about the maker’s mark “IB”. John Baker II registered a mark on 11^th April 1770 as a small-worker. He entered other marks as a buckle-maker up to 1786. This maker’s mark is very different to those of John Blake. The tongs also are of a slightly different style. They are the only tongs that I have seen with oval bowls with the maker’s mark of IB. It is therefore logical to attribute them to a different maker and the most likely is John Baker II. The tongs are dated 1793.

As usual, we cannot be certain of this attribution.

Click here to see tongs by John Blake