Sugar Tongs - London 1824 - Makers mark CE or CF?

[SimonJersey]

Hi all,

A Pair of King's Pattern Sugar Tongs Hallmarked London 1824, please may I have some advice on the maker?






Not sure if the Makers mark is CE or CF - could it be Charles Eley, Crispin Fuller or Charles Fox?

The same mark taken at a different angle:



I presume the incuse "A" is a journeyman's mark?

I think all might have been working around the same time, appreciate any thoughts.

Regards,

Simon

[MCB]

Hello Simon
None of your candidates can be ruled out. As you say all were active at some time in the year to 28th May 1825 when the date letter was extant.
Crispin Fuller died in October 1824 and Charles Eley entered his first mark alone in January 1825. Charles Fox I had such a mark throughout the year and was known to be active as a silversmith. Charles Fox II is not a candidate having never entered a mark in this style.
Eley registered his mark as a spoon maker. He was William Eley’s son, the well known flatware maker. Of the candidates he seems the most likely to have had the easier access to the expensive dies needed to produce the pattern seen here but then the other two could have contracted the work out and applied their own mark for assay purposes.
Grimwade item 298 for Eley’s mark appears to show the initial C at a slightly lower level than the initial E which might just be the case on the tongs but the example shown in the Forum’s London marks does not appear to repeat this disparity.
For what it's worth my choice would be Eley.
It is to be hoped someone will have a pair of tongs of the same pattern and mark who can assure you of an attribution as to the maker.
Regards
Mike

[SimonJersey]

Hi Mike,
Thank you so much for your detailed reply and knowledge shared, it is greatly appreciated.
best regards,
Simon