{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O104533"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O104533/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM5505/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM5505/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM5505","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O104533/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O104533","accessionNumber":"M.97-1913","objectType":"Asparagus tongs","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"These asparagus tongs have a scissor-like action and might also have been used to serve chops and steaks. There are records of asparagus tongs in the 17th century but the earliest surviving examples date from about 1750. The advantage of silver was that it did not discolour the asparagus or taint the butter sauce.","physicalDescription":"Asparaguc tongs.  Silver engraved with interlacing lines., Flat jaws, ribbed on the inside, united by a bow-spring and a band.  Engraved with a heraldic crest (unidentified).","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Peter and Ann Bateman","id":"A13850"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"engraving","id":"AAT53829"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver","categories":[{"text":"Eating","id":"THES48963"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Tableware & cutlery","id":"THES48888"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AM5505"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"65","id":"THES49734"},"free":"","case":"25","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Asparagus tongs","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""},{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1794-1795","earliest":"1794-05-29","latest":"1795-05-28"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by C. D. Rotch","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"26","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"6.7","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"111.8","unit":"g","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"3.59","unit":"troy","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Mark of Peter and Ann Bateman","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"Engraved crest (unidentified)","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"London hallmarks for 1794-5","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Gift - Rotch\nAcquisition RF: 13 / 3269","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Silver, London hallmarks for 1794-5, mark of Peter and Ann Bateman","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"ASPARAGUS TONGS\r\nLondon, 1794-5\r\nMark of Peter and Ann Bateman\r\nThe tight business network of the Bateman family, specialists in flatware is described in Case 26.  Peter Bateman, son of  Hester, was apprenticed in 1755 and was at work until 1815.  His sister-in-law Annbecame his partner in 1791 when her husband Jonanthan died.\r\nClaude Rotch Gift\r\nM.97-1913","date":{"text":"26/11/1996","earliest":"1996-11-26","latest":"1996-11-26"}}],"partNumbers":["M.97-1913"],"accessionNumberNum":"97","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1913,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LV6294"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2004-09-10","availableToBook":false}}