Victorian Sterling Silver Novelty Jester with Snake Handle Scissor Action Tongs

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Superb Victorian Sterling Silver Novelty Jester Shape Scissor Action Tea or Sugar Tongs dated 1900 This Pair of Antique Scissor Action Tea or Sugar Tongs measure approximately 4 1/4 inches or 108 mm in length from the top of the finger rings to the end or the shell shape nips by just over 1 5/8 inches or 43 mm across the top of the handles or finger rings from side to side when they are closed. The tea or sugar tongs are made from 31.5 grams of sterling silver in the novelty form or shape of a Harlequin or court jester that is holding a coiled snake or serpent in each hand that act as the handles and they have oval shell shaped nips or ends, the tongs have been superbly raised relief and engrave decorated on both sides to give them their definition and they have a central pivot as the tongs have a scissor action, the tongs have Not been engraved with a previous owners initials or family monogram all as photographed below and the shell shape ends or nips have been impressed with English sterling silver hallmarks that include the Birmingham silversmith or makers mark L & S of Levi & Salaman along with the Lion Passant mark of English 925 standard sterling silver and they have the Birmingham assay office date letter a for 1900 . The condition is used and near Mint for their age. The Tongs have No Dents, No Splits, No Cracks, No Holes and No Repairs that I have found, the tongs are straight, the decoration and definition is very crisp, the tongs are working perfectly, the silver hallmarks are still legible although as this is a used antique pair of tea or sugar tongs they do have a small amount of play or wear to their pivot that does not affect their use along with some extremely minor surface marks and wear from use, they have the patina of age that is to be expected and a gentle clean would not go amiss. Personally I think that this pair of antique novelty shape tongs can still be used today for serving sugar lumps or ice cubes and that they would make a superb addition to any collection, I also think that they look absolutely fantastic considering that they are over 110 years old. This Superb Pair of Late Victorian Sterling Silver Novelty Harlequin Shape Scissor Action Tea or Sugar Tongs dated 1900 is one of several pieces of antique and collectable silver that I have also listed. ( Please take a moment to look at my other items ) I am selling the tongs with a Very Low starting price and No Reserve. Don't miss out to a last second bid !!!... Thank you for your interest. All International Buyers are asked to pay by PayPal, if this is not possible then please contact me by using the ASK SELLER A QUESTION link at the bottom of this page with enough time before the end of the auction to arrange an alternative method of payment, I am sorry but I can Only accept personal cheques/checks or cashiers cheques/checks that are drawn from a U.K Bank Account in GBP or Great British Pounds Sterling. All U.K Buyers can pay by PayPal or you have the additional options to pay by Personal Cheque, Postal Order or BACS Bank to Bank Transfer, if a U.K buyer chooses one of the additional payment methods please contact me after the auction of your item or items just to advise me of your prefered method of payment and I will send you the relavant details by return message so that payment can be made.All purchases will normally be sent within 24 hours of recieving cleared funds, purchases that are paid for on U.K public holidays and weekends will be sent on the first available day that Royal Mail is open for business. All items purchased are sent in new packaging with internal protected by a form of Recorded Delivery that is Insured and tracked for its journey requiring a signature upon arrival. I do understand that this method of shipping is not the cheapest although it is the only way that items sent comply with the eBay and PayPal protection policies, the actual shipping cost for each parcel sent will be printed by Royal Mail on the shipping or postage label ... read more

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