The maker's mark of "WC" is a common one of this period. This means that we cannot be certain of the attribution of tongs marked "WC".

William Chawner II entered his first mark on 4^th April 1808, in partnership with William Eley & William Fearn as spoon-makers. William Chawner II had been apprenticed to William Fearn. These makers are perhaps one of the most famous and well known names of the great Chawner company. William Chawner II entered his first mark alone on 9^th February 1815 as a spoon-maker. He entered further marks up to 1833 and died on 20^th March 1834. The William Chawner II maker’s mark can therefore be found on tongs from 1815 to 1833. I have given some detail of three other makers who could have been responsible for the manufacture of these tongs. A brief description of each maker is shown, with some reasoning for why I have not attributed the tongs to them.

Warner Cheesbrough

Warner Cheesbrough entered one mark on 14th August 1798 as a small-worker. He is recorded by Heal as a “gold and silver-caster and jeweller”. This does not sound as if he would have made sugar tongs. Because of this, and because his mark was entered 20 years before the date of these tongs, it would seem unlikely that they were his work.

William Cartlidge

William Cartlidge entered a mark on 9th October 1810 as a spoon-maker. He also entered other marks in 1827. As a spoon-maker, William Cartlidge could well have made sugar tongs, so these tongs could be his.

William Crowder

William Crowder entered his only mark on 11th March 1791 as a small-worker. He is recorded by Heal as a “Gold-smith and jeweller”. He was succeeded by his son Henry who entered a mark in 1833. This suggests that he was working between 1791 and (possibly) 1833. The dates therefore match with the tongs. Given that he was a gold-smith and jeweller, it would seem unlikely that the tongs are his. He should not be ruled out.

All other entries for “WC” are probably too early to be able to have made these tongs in 1818.