The "IC" maker's mark is attributed to several silver-smiths around the period from 1760 to the early 1800's, so as is often the case we cannot be certain who the maker of a particular item is. Joshua Cooper registered his first mark on 17^th October 1786 as a buckle-maker. He then entered a mark on 14^th September 1789 as a small-worker. It seems likely that Joshua Cooper may have made sugar tongs. I have attributed the later of the 5 tongs shown below to Joshua Cooper as there really is no other maker of this period who is very likely. Although there is a Joseph Cooper who was a gold-worker who registered marks between 1796 and 1799 who is a potential (but unlikely candidate). Another possibility is John Carter II but he is identified as a specialist candle-stick maker and is shown to have only worked until 1777. This therefore probably rules him out. The two earlier tongs are almost certainly NOT Joshua Cooper as they are too early.