George III Antique Irish Silver Asparagus Tongs

• Dublin, 1794 by William Law
• Dimensions: 10 inches in length

Asparagus Tongs are an interesting item as their popularity has never diminished. This is the 21st century and we are still using them as often as they were used in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Asparagus was first cultivated and consumed by the Ancient Romans and was not introduced to England until the 16th century. The earliest asparagus servers date from the mid-18th century and had scissor-like tongs with narrow corrugated arms. As the 18th century progressed to the 19th, asparagus servers widened, taking the form of bow-back tongs with a collar or yoke. This is a form commonly seen on the market today. Hinged asparagus tongs, fitted with a spring, started to appear by the mid-19th century.

A charming and stunning pair of George III Antique Irish Silver Asparagus Tongs with elegant bright-cut engraved decoration that resonates down both arms. They are designed in a wonderful neoclassical style and are very easy to use due to the way they were made. A lip at the end of one grip was designed to help prevent slippage.

We are quite pleased to have acquired these George III Antique Irish Silver Asparagus Tongs. They are in pristine condition and are truly superb considering the age of them – they were made in the 18th century.