Sterling Silver Sugar Tongs, Limerick 1790 John Purcell

An extremely rare pair of Limerick-made Irish provincial silver sugar tongs in superb condition. Dublin-made silver is relatively common, Cork silver is scarce and Limerick silver is very rare.

These tongs are in the quintessential Irish flatware pattern - Bright-cut Star - and bear original engraved initials to the exterior of the bow. The engraving remains crisp throughout and the condition is excellent. The tongs are marked "STERLING" incuse to one side and "IP" maker's mark thrice to the other. In addition, there is a fleur de lys mark. 

The fleur de lys or trefoil mark can be found on Limerick silver by different makers for the period 1780 - 1810. Bowen & O'Brien in "A Celebration of Limerick's Silver" state the theory that "these items were stamped by a municipal officer to indicate conformity with a local ordinance of some nature, such as payment of a tax".