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 11^th 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 7^th July 1780, when James Sutton entered a mark at that address. These silver sugar tongs must therefore be dated between 11^th April 1780 and 7^th July 1780 as Frances Stamp will only have been operating for that short time.

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