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 toast or asparagus?
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| Author | Topic: toast or asparagus? |
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vathek Posts: 966 |
posted 06-22-2009 01:48 PM
  
[01-2740] This is a silverplate server with ivory handle. It has nice bright cut borders and a sprig of wheat so I assume it would have been for toast. Would the proper name be toast tongs? Also can't find the maker online but must be from Sheffield as it has the crown. I assume they date from about mid century? IP: Logged |
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agphile Posts: 798 |
posted 06-22-2009 06:19 PM
I know little about the marks on silver plated items and don’t have any reference books for them so cannot offer much help. In England this use of the crown was banned in 1896 because of the potential for confusion with the Sheffield silver mark so your tongs must pre-date that. I’m not sure we can automatically assume the presence of the crown on a plated item means Sheffield. Sheffield was a major centre for silverplating but I have no doubt that firms elsewhere will have used a crown as a “quality” mark to cash in on the Sheffield reputation. As for the use of the tongs, my guess would be to serve sandwiches etc at afternoon tea. IP: Logged |
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Richard Kurtzman Moderator Posts: 768 |
posted 06-22-2009 09:13 PM
vathek, Without being able to see a better photo and not knowing the dimensions of the piece I can't say for sure, but there is a good chance that it's a double bladed fish server. Can you post a photo showing the entire piece and give the dimensions? IP: Logged |
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vathek Posts: 966 |
posted 06-23-2009 12:21 PM
Here's probably the best pic I'm going to get. The overall length is 9.5" and the widest part of the blade about 2.25", so if for fish it would be probably small pieces. Maybe I'm trying to read to much into 'decoration as a clue to function'?  IP: Logged |
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ahwt Posts: 2334 |
posted 06-23-2009 01:21 PM
Several more of these double bladed servers (Server) are shown at this thread. While similar to the tong type servers, the top blade of this type is usually smaller than the bottom blade and of course they have a spring to keep the blades apart. IP: Logged |
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vathek Posts: 966 |
posted 06-23-2009 01:46 PM
the other examples are extremely similar in overall construction, so I guess a whitebait server it must be. IP: Logged |
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bascall Posts: 1629 |
posted 06-23-2009 02:38 PM
The wheat motif for the decoration and the lack of much in the way of holes for drainage does make one wonder about the sandwich server suggestion. IP: Logged |
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Dale Posts: 2132 |
posted 06-23-2009 04:08 PM
My understanding is that pieces like this were part of 'department store silverware' and were made over a long period of time. From ones I have handled, my guess would be manufacture petered out after WW2. But I am sure there is some enterprising soul in Asia who is contemplating making up a few hundred more. Most likely, this was sold as an asparagus tongs. IP: Logged |
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agphile Posts: 798 |
posted 06-23-2009 07:46 PM
As I understand it, whitebait servers are kept open by their spring and are closed by the thumb whereas the servers here look to me as if they are kept closed by the spring and opened by the thumb. Whatever they were called by the makers or retailers they can be used for a variety of foods. I am pretty sure I have seen similar tongs used to serve tea time sandwiches but that doesn't prove that this was their original purpose, although the engraving might support that suggestion. However it is also possible that the engraving was purely decorative, perhaps matching other items in the same range. IP: Logged |
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vathek Posts: 966 |
posted 06-24-2009 07:32 AM
That is true, the spring keeps it closed, but the thumbpiece is so designed as to make it very easy to open or apply downward pressure to keep a grip on whatever is being held. IP: Logged |
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FWG Posts: 845 |
posted 06-25-2009 05:08 PM
I've also seen these referred to as ravioli servers.... IP: Logged |
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