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Item: Sugar Tongs Description: Fiddle, thread & shell pattern Hallmark: London 1819 by Paul Storr Dimensions: 158mm long; 64g weight Comments: Excellent pair by the master silversmith. Crest with earl coronet surmount of the Egerton family belonging to the 7th Earl of Bridgwater. Paul Storr was the greatest 19thC English silversmith. These tongs are engraved with a crest to the outside of the bow which bears testimony to the quality of Storr's clientele. The engraved crest can be described "on a chapeau (gules/red) turned up (ermine/white with black spots), a lion rampant of the first, supporting a broad arrow erect (or/gold), headed and feather (argent/silver)". The crest is surmounted by an Earl's coronet. The crest belonged to the Egerton family, specifically General John William Egerton who was the 7th Earl of Bridgwater. He was born in 1753 and succeeded to his Earldom in 1803. He died in 1823 and the title passed to his eccentric brother (bequeathed his estate to his pet cats and dogs that he dressed up!). The 8th Earl died in 1829 without issue and thus the title became extinct. The most famous member of the Egerton family was Francis Egerton (3rd Duke and the 6th Earl of Bridgwater 1736- 1803) who lays claim to be the Father of the UK canal system when he commissioned James Brindley to construct the Bridgwater Canal to carry coal from his Worsley estate to Manchester (opened in 1761). These tongs are in fine condition with very crisp decoration and clear hallmarks. Price: SOLD Ref. No.: TS/7790 |
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