Sugar Tongs
late 19th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
These sugar tongs were made by the electroplating method. The manufacturer, Elkington and Co., founded in Birmingham by George Richard Elkington and his cousin Henry Elkington, exploited the development of the new manufacturing process of electroplating, in which silver can be deposited on a base metal by the action of an electric current. Elkingtons revolutionised the silver and plating trades all over the world by marketing electroplate as a cheaper substitute for silver. Electroplate enabled consumers to have the look of silver on their dinner or tea table, which conveyed wealth and status, at a price that many could afford.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Electroplated nickel silver with cast/stamped arms |
| Brief description | Sugar tongs, electroplated nickel silver, possibly made by William Page and Company, late 19th century, Britain. |
| Physical description | Bow or spring tongs, made from one piece of metal bent into a U shape forming two spring arms on the end of each is a claw shaped grip. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Production type | Mass produced |
| Marks and inscriptions | Rd, fleur-de-lis, crown, ‘C’, WP possibly for William Page and Company |
| Credit line | Given by David Judd |
| Historical context | These sugar tongs were made by the electroplating method. The manufacturer, Elkington and co founded in Birmingham by George Richard Elkington and his cousin Henry Elkington exploited the development of the new manufacturing process of electroplating, in which silver can be deposited on a base metal by the action of an electric current. Elkingtons revolutionised the silver and plating trades all over the world by marketing electroplate as a cheaper substitute for silver. Electroplate enabled consumers to have the look of silver on their dinner or tea table, which conveyed wealth and status, at a price that many could afford. |
| Production | Reason For Production: Retail |
| Summary | These sugar tongs were made by the electroplating method. The manufacturer, Elkington and Co., founded in Birmingham by George Richard Elkington and his cousin Henry Elkington, exploited the development of the new manufacturing process of electroplating, in which silver can be deposited on a base metal by the action of an electric current. Elkingtons revolutionised the silver and plating trades all over the world by marketing electroplate as a cheaper substitute for silver. Electroplate enabled consumers to have the look of silver on their dinner or tea table, which conveyed wealth and status, at a price that many could afford. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.13-2000 |
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| Record created | March 16, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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