Sheffield Maker and Lion on a pair of cast Tongs ?

[nigel le sueur]

l recently got these pair of tongs but the maker and lion l cannot find, the nearest matching maker and lion l found was J Tibbits a maker in 1778, looking through other makers (London et al) this was the nearest l could find for the right time.
The lion does not appear to be London and is similar to Sheffield but l am not sure.
Any input would be welcome, and sorry Trev if l am in wrong location.


regards
Nigel

[carlislepaul]

Nigel

Take a look at the makers mark "possibly" John Tweedie, London 1783 & 1789 in 'Jacksons' at pages 222 & 224, looks a good match for Lion as well.

Regards

Paul

[MCB]

Hello Nigel,

If the Tibbet mark you found was the one shown on page 442 of Jackson's book as registered at Sheffield in 1778 caution is suggested for the attribution as the published Sheffield register shows this mark had a central pellet. On the other hand there was no other IT mark registered there before 1914 so it could have been an unregistered Tibbet mark which Jackson's has reproduced.
Paul is right that Tweedie's marks at pages 222 & 224 of Jackson's book look like the one here but again Grimwade 1709 shows his mark was registered with a pellet.
Two from Grimwade to ponder:
Item 1710 for John Toullet, smallworker. Although the shape shown there as registered in 1784 has rounded corners Grimwade mentions another oblong registered 1792;
Item 1711 for John Troby, smallworker registered 1787.

Regards,
Mike

[nigel le sueur]

Mike and Paul

Thank you both for the reply, as said Tweedie has a pellet, the Touliet attribution (oblong mark) was registered in 1792 and there is no duty mark on these tongs, the same goes for Troby (1787).
Yes Mike the Tibbet mark was from Jacksons, and as you said it does not show a pellet in that book.
Paul yes you could well be right about the lion, maybe it is just wishfull thinking on my part :-)
Regards
Nigel

[Tongtwister]

Hi guys,

I have two pairs of "IT" tongs on the web-site, one of which is definitely pre-1784 & the other 1786-90. There is no pellet on either of those marks, and the later pair's mark looks a bit like this one. I think I would go with John Tweedie, there's not really a sensible alternative.

Regards
Graham