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ID #SA1071503
FOR SALE
£125
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Early Georgian Silver Sugar Nips Tongs C1740
For sale by Aramis Antiques
for sale €146     $159
£125
Aramis Antiques

Aramis Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Apr 2020
Browse dealers 202 items
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Id #SA1071503
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Early Georgian Silver Sugar Nips Tongs C1740

18th century
For Sale by Aramis Antiques
Description

An early Georgian pair of silver sugar nips or tongs c1740. There is a hallmark on one of the finger rings (it was normal to stamp only a basic hallmark on small items in this era). This pair are enchanting in appearance and design as they have spiralled tongs, shell shaped nips and are pricked at the joint on each side with initials - VG on one side and ASal on the other side. No doubt this was a special occasion gift for a couple, and the two sets of initials record their union. The use of spirals and shells are typical of the early Georgian era. They are well made and open and close accurately. A lovely collectable item.

Date of Manufacture

Aramis Antiques has dated these Georgian Silver Sugar Nips to the 1750s.

Independent Date Check ID 08500521
Dealer's Item Date1750s
Sellingantiques Date1750s
Sellingantiques agingItem 255-295 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to THE 1750s:
Cast scissor form with shell bowls: standard English silversmithing of the mid-eighteenth century.
Dot-pricked initials across the central pivot boss: customary Georgian engraving to record initials.
Single maker's mark on the finger loop: usual marking on small cast silver wares.
Moulded spurs on the ring handles: stops to keep fingers from slipping.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Physical Dimensions
Height
11.5cm (4.53")
Width
4cm (1.57")
Depth
1cm (0.39")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1071503
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Please feel free to contact us. Thank you very much for looking at our stock and for your custom. This is much appreciated.

Description
An early Georgian pair of silver sugar nips or tongs c1740.
“
There is a hallmark on one of the finger rings (it was normal to stamp only a basic hallmark on small items in this era).
Aramis Antiques

This pair are enchanting in appearance and design as they have spiralled tongs, shell shaped nips and are pricked at the joint on each side with initials - VG on one side and ASal on the other side. No doubt this was a special occasion gift for a couple, and the two sets of initials record their union. The use of spirals and shells are typical of the early Georgian era. They are well made and open and close accurately. A lovely collectable item.

Date of Manufacture

Aramis Antiques has dated these Georgian Silver Sugar Nips to the 1750s.

Independent Date Report ID 08500521
Dealer's Item Date1750s
Sellingantiques dating1750s
Sellingantiques agingItem 255-295 years old
Test ResultsPassed dating check
Why Sellingantiques dated this piece to the 1750s:
Cast scissor form with shell bowls: standard English silversmithing of the mid-eighteenth century.
Dot-pricked initials across the central pivot boss: customary Georgian engraving to record initials.
Single maker's mark on the finger loop: usual marking on small cast silver wares.
Moulded spurs on the ring handles: stops to keep fingers from slipping.

This is an independent date report produced by Sellingantiques using its own proprietary system. The process uses the photographs shown on this page. The system is never told the date the dealer has declared. This report shows that the two dates corroborate.

Height
11.5cm (4.53")
Width
4cm (1.57")
Depth
1cm (0.39")
Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1071503
Aramis Antiques
Aramis Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Apr 2020
Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the Aramis Antiques Profile Page

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An early Georgian sterling silver scissor-style sugar nip featuring shell-shaped grips and scrolled arms with finger loops.
1 / 9
Archive I An early Georgian sterling silver scissor-style sugar nip featuring shell-shaped grips and scrolled arms with finger loops.

Early Georgian Silver Sugar Nips Tongs C1740

Archive II An early Georgian sterling silver scissor-style sugar nip featuring shell-shaped grips and scrolled arms with finger loops. View II
Archive III An early Georgian sterling silver scissor-style sugar nip featuring shell-shaped grips and scrolled arms with finger loops. View III
Archive IV An early Georgian sterling silver scissor-style sugar nip featuring shell-shaped grips and scrolled arms with finger loops. View IV
Archive V An early Georgian sterling silver scissor-style sugar nip featuring shell-shaped grips and scrolled arms with finger loops. View V
Archive VI An early Georgian sterling silver scissor-style sugar nip featuring shell-shaped grips and scrolled arms with finger loops. View VI
Archive VII An early Georgian sterling silver scissor-style sugar nip featuring shell-shaped grips and scrolled arms with finger loops. View VII
Archive VIII An early Georgian sterling silver scissor-style sugar nip featuring shell-shaped grips and scrolled arms with finger loops. View VIII
Archive IX An early Georgian sterling silver scissor-style sugar nip featuring shell-shaped grips and scrolled arms with finger loops. View IX
Enlarged Archival View
Aramis Antiques

Aramis Antiques
Telephone 07878 506107
Location
Surrey
United Kingdom
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/aramisantiques
Verified Since Apr 2020
Items For Sale 202
Items Sold 525
Aramis Antiques
Aramis Antiques
Verified Since Apr 2020
View Dealer Info
Location: Surrey, United Kingdom
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/aramisantiques
Verified
Apr 2020
For Sale
202
Sold
525
An early Georgian sterling silver scissor-style sugar nip featuring shell-shaped grips and scrolled arms with finger loops.
Early Georgian silver sugar nips tongs c1740
Ref: SA1071503
An early Georgian sterling silver scissor-style sugar nip featuring shell-shaped grips and scrolled arms with finger loops.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Detail View 5
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Detail View 7
Detail View 8
Archival Detail

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Cataloguer’s note

Written by Sellingantiques from the dealer’s photographs and listing
  • ObjectSugar Nips
  • Period18th century
  • StyleGeorgian
  • MaterialSterling Silver
  • ColourSilver
  • MotifsShell grips, Scrolled arms, Scissor action, Engraved initials
  • SizeH 11.5 cm (5 in) x W 4 cm (2 in) x D 1 cm (0 in)

These early Georgian sterling silver sugar nips date from around 1740. The piece has a polished silver finish with crisp details including shell-shaped grips at the terminal ends, twisted spiral-form shafts leading to central circular loops, and a hinge joint stamped with engraved initials reading VG on one side and ASal on the other. Two finger rings complete the scissor-action design. The item measures 11.5 cm high, 4 cm wide, and 1 cm deep. In a contemporary home, this small antique instrument suits display on a sideboard top alongside tea service equipment or within a dedicated collection of early silver tableware.

FAQs

Sugar nips are scissor-action sterling silver implements developed in the early 18th century to grasp and break off pieces from hard sugar loaves during tea service.

Early Georgian sugar nips were wrought and cast from sterling silver, joined by a central steel or silver pivot rivet, and featured shaped arms ending in shell or pad terminals.

Period sugar nips often feature makers initials stamped near the central joint or arms, hand-engraved monograms, cast shell-form grips, and early pivot construction without later machine marks.

These small decorative implements can be displayed on a sideboard tray, arranged in a glass cabinet alongside period tea caddies, or framed in a shadow box display.

Silver pieces should be wiped gently with a non-abrasive silver polishing cloth and stored in a low-humidity environment away from sulphurous materials to reduce oxidisation.
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