Antique American Tiffany and Company Silver Grape Scissors

• New York, circa 1880 by Tiffany and Company
• Dimensions: 7 5/8 inches in length

Grape Scissors/Grape Shears have been gracing the tables of elegant dinner parties and assisting in grape harvesting for centuries. They bring a touch of sophistication and practicality to any occasion. They were introduced in the late 18th century and have always taken a scissor-form. These intriguing utensils have a curved or angled shape, which allows for the cutting of grape clusters (not used for cutting the thicker stalks) without causing damage to the fruit, the vine or the scissors.

The earliest Grape Scissors/Grape Shears were generally quite plain in design. In the middle of the nineteenth century, there were many varieties of designs that were produced. Some of these were quite elaborate such as having chased vine patterns while others were less ornate. Grape Scissors/Grape Shears probably reached their height of popularity in the mid to late nineteenth century.

Our Antique American Silver Grape Scissors/Grape Shears are an early example of flatware from Tiffany and Co. Clusters of flowers resonate throughout the body. Our Grape Scissors/Grape Shears are fully marked including the maker’s stamp, pattern number 350 and director’s letter M (1873-1891).

To learn more about Tiffany and Company, please refer back to Great Silversmiths under the Antique Silver section.