l T ? Cast Sugar Tongs

[nigel le sueur]

http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l597/windag/ITm.jpg http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l597/windag/itl.jpg

This makers mark is on a pair of cast sugar tongs, so would date this maker between 1760 - 1784, l am fairly sure it is a London maker (Lion). One name is John Touliet, as he was entered his mark in April 1784, other small workers James Tookey and John Tayleur, both seem to have pellets.
Any ideas welcome
Thanks
Nigel

[Granmaa]

Hi Nigel,

Could you post a clearer photo of the lion? It looks provincial, but I'd like to be sure.

Miles

[nigel le sueur]

Hi Miles
Will do, the article you wrote on the Exeter Lion is excellent, l am surprised l have not seen it
Nigel

[nigel le sueur]

http://i1125.photobucket.com/albums/l59 ... unklio.jpg

Miles
Hopefully this will suffice, if this pair are provincial then that will be a bonus, as l brought them as scrap because they were broken.
Nigel

[Granmaa]

Thank you for the photo. Now I don't think it is provincial, but the lion doesn't sit easily with me. I would have expected cusping on the bottom of the cartouche.

Miles

[spobby]

I had a pair of cast sugar tongs (sold recently) with an overstruck Hester Bateman mark of 'IT', which I made to be, possibly, John Tweedie.
Just thought I'd throw that one in.
Regards
John

[nigel le sueur]

Miles and John
Thank you both for your help, John, Tweedie would off been a good candidate for the date, but his mark had a pellet (Grimwade 1709) Miles l have looked and cannot find a maker with IT in any provincial maker, although my resources for this are not by any means exhaustive, the mark of John Touliet does (Grimwade 1710) does seem a fair match so l am going to go for that option of course a very tentative one, although the maker may not be certain, l am glad l have rescued them from the smelters pot to add to my collection, albiet they have been repaired.
On a different note the amount of silver at auctions being weighed just for the scrap value is sad, we are losing a lot of flatware and history, very short sighted.
Nigel

[Granmaa]

Nigel,

I couldn't agree with you more regarding the scrap situation, although it has become a little better following the recent drop in price.
It would be interesting to have a list of every item melted down at just one refiner's over the course of a month.

Miles

[spobby]

I see also James Tookey with the pellet, but even so, 'IT' is a very deliberative subject. For the record - this was the mark I had .. , which I sold as .
Regards
John