posted 02-06-2003 09:28 PM            

Albright perhaps.

[gone from the internet - hillsc.net/silver/tongs.jpgtongs2.jpgtongs3.jpg]

posted 02-06-2003 10:18 PM            

Sardine tongs do exist but they generally have broad fork-like grips with five or more tines on each side. More common are sardine forks, which vary widely in shape but in general are quite broad with four to seven short broad tines. Sardine forks are rather small, and might be considered a place piece by the uninitiated, but they were indeed used for serving. Since this differs from WEV description, perhaps the Scandinavians use a different style of sardine fork. They certainly eat more than most of the rest of the world!

Brent

posted 02-06-2003 10:51 PM            

In all seriousness, these individual grips (and I did not note the closed end, servers having both ends open) can only be considered another in the long line of 'invented' utensils produced by the leading silver houses. There are only two proper ways to eat asparagus (acording to every cookery and etiquette book I have come across): by finger or cut and forked as any other vegetable. If by fingers, the entire piece is eaten at once, not returned in parto to the plate. And once cut, it can not be then finger fed. High English and French services had, at one time, a long narrow sort of individual gravy boat for dipping the spears into sauces when hand handling. When knapped on the plate, they were eaten with knife and fork. The late Victorian makers, working no doubt in conjunction with the lace glove makers, invented these useless devices for ladies and gent who insisted, for some perverse reason, on eating with their hands clad.

posted 03-29-2003 05:16 AM            

Silver Asparagus Server
For serving asparagus spears with a removable rack and sauce boat.
10" x 17" Weight 60 oz

Individual Asparagus Tongs
Found in:
Old Colonial (shown)
Francis I
Love Disarmed
Georgian

Edwardian Asparagus Server Set
made in ca 1900.
Length 27 cms.

posted 03-29-2003 11:17 AM            

quote:

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Large serving tongs were first made toward the end of the 1700s. For many years they were all known as asparagus tongs, but it is now thought that the narrow-bladed examples were used to serve meat, since asparagus stalks would break when lifted unless the blades were broader.

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