Edward Byne was born in 1778 amd died in 1856. His first mention in the assay register was in 1805 and his latest mention in 1816. He is only recorded as having sent only nine pairs of tongs for assay so this pair is very rare. In 1847 he was tried, alongside Josiah Gregory for forging asssay marks and was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with hard labour, a tough sentence given that he was 69 years old at the time.

Tongs by Edward Byne are very rare and pictures are by kind permission of Robert Gutsell, who runs the highly informative Provincial silver web-site.

Click here to see the Provincial silver web-site