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Dear forum members
I found this sugar tongue today, on a flea market in Switzerland. It is British, but the city mark is missing. I post it in the London section, can the administrator move it to the correct section?
I have following questions?:
Any help with the city, date and maker?
The tongue has a duty - bust mark, it looks like Georg III. So probable made before 1820. I am surprised by the decoration. The zigzag looks machine made. Was this introduced in Britain so early? Or was here an older piece beefed-up in Victorian time?
Any help is welcome.
Thank you, Jörg

Hi Jörg,

It's in the correct section of the forum.

See here for more information regarding George Wintle: http://www.925-1000.com/a_OB_Wintle1813.html

and also: viewtopic.php?f=74&t=36018&p=97525

Trev.

Hi Jörg,

I would agree that your tongs are London assayed, hence the lack of the town mark as was common on small articles at the end of the Geo III period. The date letter "C" could either be 1798 or 1818 and I cannot positively tell from the photo. Are you able to closely compare it to the here and let us know:

http://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Date ... s%20C.html


I cannot give a 100% positive id to the maker but there was one who prolific in sugar tong maker whose surname begins with the letter W that immediately springs to mind. George Wintle. He had many makers marks over his career but one in particular looks like it could be a match for yours and it was registered in 1798. Note the wide, elongated oval cartouche.

Examples of his work can be found here:

http://www.silversugartongs.com/london/ ... Wintle.htm

Wintle had many makers marks over his career but one in particular looks like it could be a match for yours and it was registered in 1798. Note the wide, elongated oval cartouche.

Examples of his marks can be found here. Please look closely at the year 1798:
http://www.silversugartongs.com/london/ ... 0marks.htm

An excellent article with further information about Wintle and his marks can be found here:
http://www.silversugartongs.com/london/ ... 202013.pdf

Hope this helps,
Steve

Hi Steve and Trev
Thank you! Makes my day, a flea market find.
So it is Georg Wintle. I checked the date letter carefully and tend strongly towards 1798. And the linked pictures answer my second question, on the decoration. Obviously the decoration is original, not later. I did not know machine made decoration was made this early.
Again, thank you for the fast response. Jörg

Hi Jörg,

I'm no expert on engraving but I see primarily bright cut and wriggle work. These are both done by hand.

There is an excellent short video on youtube showing wriggle work. Search on "Simple wheat cut and wriggle engraving ".

Cheers,
Steve

Hi Steve
You name yourself no expert on engraving but you know much more than I do. I did not know wriggle work exists. Thank to the link to the video I learned something.
Thank you! Jörg