Unknown maker's mark IG on tea tongs possibly London

[theclothcat]

Hi all,

I recently bought a pair of tea tongs (AKA sugar nips) which were described as 'possibly by John Gear' (see below). The tongs are are just marked with the maker's mark 'I G' and the Lion Passant Guardant mark. The I G is not inside any cartouche and the Lion Passant mark is in a rectangular cartouche which I think may be the London one used between 1736 and 1739.

The John Gear mark as listed on 925-1000 is in a rectangle but this one is not.

Note they are also engraved IM on the top.

Can anyone help me identify the maker and date them? Many thanks.






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[agphile]

In his book "18th Century Silver Tea Tongs" David Shlosberg attributed this incuse IG mark to James Gray (mark entered in 1736) as it is found on tongs which, like yours, can be dated stylistically to the late 1730s or early 1740s.
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[theclothcat]

Thank you very much agphile that is extremely helpful.
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[shlossy]

Thanks for using my book as a reference, Agphile.

This pair is the seventh pair bearing this unusual mark which I am sure can be attributed to James Gray. Since it bears the lion passant used between 1736 and 1739 and we know that this maker's mark was entered in 1736, they can be dated quite accurately to one of those four years - another quite unusual feature!
Well done to theclothcat for spotting them.
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[agphile]

Shlossy

My pleasure. It would have been a bit much not to have cited my source.

Clothcat

I should have added to my initial post that the book is a "must have" for any collector of tongs.

David
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[shlossy]

How kind, David.
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[theclothcat]

Thank you shlossy that's very helpful info.
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