Sugar Nippers
ca. 1750 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Object Type
Sugar nippers or nips were made from the early 18th century, but from the 1770s were replaced by sugar tongs. The sharp-edged bowl helps to cut or 'nip' sugar from the large, irregularly shaped loaves sugar was sold in. Sugar nippers generally have a scissor-like shape rather than the later U-shaped sugar tongs. They were often supplied with a set of tea spoons or as part of a boxed set containing caddies, spoons and nippers.
Design & Designing
The shell-shaped bowls and scrolling handles show the influence of Rococo design. Marine motifs such as shells, waves or sea creatures were especially popular in Rococo silver. It has also been suggested that the shell shape of tea scoops and sugar nippers refers to the custom of placing a scallop shell in a tea crate to allow the tea to be sampled.
People
The silversmith Thomas Jackson was apprenticed to William Soame of the Mercers Company in 1729 on payment of a fee of £20. He became free of the Company in 1736 (i.e., completed his apprenticeship) and worked in London for a number of years subsequently.
Sugar nippers or nips were made from the early 18th century, but from the 1770s were replaced by sugar tongs. The sharp-edged bowl helps to cut or 'nip' sugar from the large, irregularly shaped loaves sugar was sold in. Sugar nippers generally have a scissor-like shape rather than the later U-shaped sugar tongs. They were often supplied with a set of tea spoons or as part of a boxed set containing caddies, spoons and nippers.
Design & Designing
The shell-shaped bowls and scrolling handles show the influence of Rococo design. Marine motifs such as shells, waves or sea creatures were especially popular in Rococo silver. It has also been suggested that the shell shape of tea scoops and sugar nippers refers to the custom of placing a scallop shell in a tea crate to allow the tea to be sampled.
People
The silversmith Thomas Jackson was apprenticed to William Soame of the Mercers Company in 1729 on payment of a fee of £20. He became free of the Company in 1736 (i.e., completed his apprenticeship) and worked in London for a number of years subsequently.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Chased silver |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by J.A. Tulk |
| Object history | Made in England by Thomas Jackson I (active from 1736) Although it was difficult to make large spoons out of Sheffield plate, they were still cheaper than those made of silver. In this example a die-stamped bowl has been soldered to a separately made stem. Like most surviving plated spoons, it has not worn well which explains why they were not popular. |
| Summary | Object Type Sugar nippers or nips were made from the early 18th century, but from the 1770s were replaced by sugar tongs. The sharp-edged bowl helps to cut or 'nip' sugar from the large, irregularly shaped loaves sugar was sold in. Sugar nippers generally have a scissor-like shape rather than the later U-shaped sugar tongs. They were often supplied with a set of tea spoons or as part of a boxed set containing caddies, spoons and nippers. Design & Designing The shell-shaped bowls and scrolling handles show the influence of Rococo design. Marine motifs such as shells, waves or sea creatures were especially popular in Rococo silver. It has also been suggested that the shell shape of tea scoops and sugar nippers refers to the custom of placing a scallop shell in a tea crate to allow the tea to be sampled. People The silversmith Thomas Jackson was apprenticed to William Soame of the Mercers Company in 1729 on payment of a fee of £20. He became free of the Company in 1736 (i.e., completed his apprenticeship) and worked in London for a number of years subsequently. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | CIRC.838-1956 |
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| Record created | March 27, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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