James Barber was the main partner of the York firm of silver-smiths which included at various stages Whitwell, Cattle and North. James Barber was working alone between 1847 and 1858. He also worked alone very briefly during 1814, just before William Whitwell joined him. These tongs are plain fiddle pattern and have the date letter for 1854. Notice that the duty mark is Queen Victoria’s head and is facing left rather than the Georgian heads that faced right.

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