Not currently on display at the V&A

Sugar Tongs

1869-1870 (made)
Artist/Maker
Barkentin & Krall (maker)
William Burges (designer)
Place of origin
London (made)

These sugar tongs were designed by William Burges (1827-1881) for his own use. The construction is unusual with a piece of wrought iron inlaid with gold being set into the sprung end.


Object details

Categories
Drinking
Metalwork
Silver
Tableware & Cutlery
Object type
Sugar Tongs
Materials and techniques
Silver-gilt, steel and gold, engraved
Silver-Gilt
Steel
Gold
Forging
Riveting
Gilding
Engraving (Incising)
Brief description
Sugar tongs, silver-gilt, steel and gold, London hallmarks for 1869-70, mark of Jes. Barkentin for Barkentin & Krall.
Physical description
Sugar tongs, silver-gilt, steel and gold, the straight arms circular in section, terminate in grips cast and chased with leopard's heads. The arms are held in tension by a circular spring bow lined with a steel band which is set with gold rivets arranged in crosses flanked by colons. The inside junction of the arms and spring bow is chased with a leaf on each side. The straight sided bow is engraved on the outer side with two lines between which is engraved, in Lombardic script +WILLIELMUS BURGES:.
Dimensions
  • Length: 4.625cm
Style
Gothic Revival
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • London hallmarks for 1869-70.
  • Mark of Jes. Barkentin for Barkentin & Krall.
  • Engraved: +WILLIELMUS BURGES:. in Lombardic script.
Object history
Designed by William Burges (1827-1881) for his own use.
Subjects depicted
Leopards
Crosses
Leaves
Script (Typeface Group)
Summary
These sugar tongs were designed by William Burges (1827-1881) for his own use. The construction is unusual with a piece of wrought iron inlaid with gold being set into the sprung end.
Bibliographic reference
Ian Pickford, Silver Flatware, English, Irish and Scottish 1660-1980, Woodbridge, Antique Collectors' Club, 1983. p.154. ill. fig.248.
Collection
Metalwork Collection
Accession number
M.26-1983

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O376961/sugar-tongs-william-burges/
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