Silver serving tongs for asparagus first started to make an appearance around c 1770 and probably be divided into two principal types.
The first type is narrow bladed with ribbed ends and are rather like a pair of large compasses. The other type have similar endings but are of scissor action with finger loops. About 1780 another type is introduced with the same ends but more like a large pair of sugar tongs with a bar through the middle.
By the early nineteenth century the tongs start to follow the pattern of flatware of the period and the spring action tongs tend to have a much broader blade and are often intricately pierced. There has been a lot of debate over the years whether all these varieties were strictly for asparagus. The probability seems to lean on the side of multipurpose- so they were probably used for cuts of meat as well, they are sometimes called chop tongs. In the nineteenth century , especially the broad blade variety, were often used for sandwiches.
By the latter part of the nineteenth century around 1880, individual asparagus tongs were being made in silver – often in boxed sets of six.
Whether you want to serve asparagus, cuts of meat or sandwiches we are sure you will find a fine selection here at William Walter Antiques.
