The sugar tongs shown are very interesting in that they are chased engraved rather than bright cut. They are an example of very early bow type tongs, made as a single piece rather than cast in three parts as was more normal for this period. They are also marked with only the maker's mark struck twice. This was done to avoid paying to have the tongs hall-marked. As a result of this, the tongs are not marked with the Lion Passant and can therefore not be legally described or sold as silver. These sugar tongs are probably dated at c1775.

Many Thanks to Vic Bowman for helping to identify these tongs.