Rare1786-90 T. Liddiard/H. Bateman miniature Georgian sterling silver sugartongs


Rare1786-90 T. Liddiard/H. Bateman miniature Georgian sterling silver sugartongs

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Rare1786-90 T. Liddiard/H. Bateman miniature Georgian sterling silver sugartongs:
$124.99


We are listing these very rarely seen miniature sized 1786-1790 Georgian bright cut sterling silver sugar tongs which were originally made by the world famous female London silversmith and then purchased and over stamped by the London silversmith Thomas Liddiard. At least three well known London silversmiths of the late 1700s - Liddiard, George Gray, and John Lambe - are known to have purchased and over stamped Hester Bateman tongs with their own makers\' marks (see page 53 of Georgian Silver Sugar Tongs, whose author also has the silversugartongs website). The book also notes that \"short sugar tongs are quite rare\" (page 9), and that they could have been made as toys, sales samples, picnic tongs, or as specifically commissioned pieces (page 8). The tongs are gently flared and superbly decorated (in the recognizable style used by Hester Bateman), and they are marked inside one arm with a lion passant and a duty mark facing right, and inside the other arm with a TL maker\'s mark which has the bottom of the iconic cursive HB maker\'s mark showing through at the bottom. The TL mark was registered in 1770 by London silversmith Thomas Liddiard (see page 202 of Grimwade\'s London Goldsmiths 1697-1837), and the HB mark was registered by London silversmith Hester Bateman in 1778 (page 78 of Grimwade). The tongs are less than 4.5 inches long, weigh 1 ounce, they are very nicely decorated, and they are in very good condition. A monogram has been erased off the outside of the bow, and there is a scratch on one arm near the bowl (see the last picture). Please view the closeup pictures and judge for yourself (the tongs have not been professionally polished). Interestingly, the silversugartongs website only has two examples of Liddiard\'s tongs (both standard size), and they are both over stamped Hester Bateman tongs as well. A very rarely seen pair of miniature Georgian tongs originally made by Hester Bateman (arguably the most famous silversmith of all time).

We can currently only accept offers on this from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada. Shipping to the United Kingdom and Canada will be charged at cost. Payment must be made by Paypal within three days of the sale ending.


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Rare1786-90 T. Liddiard/H. Bateman miniature Georgian sterling silver sugartongs:
$124.99

Buy Now