{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O33976"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O33976/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O33976","accessionNumber":"M.13-2000","objectType":"Sugar tongs","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"These sugar tongs were made by the electroplating method. The manufacturer, Elkington and Co., founded in Birmingham by George Richard Elkington and his cousin Henry Elkington, exploited the development of the new manufacturing process of electroplating, in which silver can be deposited on a base metal by the action of an electric current. Elkingtons revolutionised the silver and plating trades all over the world by marketing electroplate as a cheaper substitute for silver. Electroplate enabled consumers to have the look of silver on their dinner or tea table, which conveyed wealth and status, at a price that many could afford.","physicalDescription":"Bow or spring tongs, made from one piece of metal bent into a U shape forming two spring arms on the end of each is a claw shaped grip.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"William Page and Company","id":"A11175"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":"possibly"}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"},{"text":"nickel silver","id":"AAT242125"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Electroplated nickel silver with cast/stamped arms","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Tea, Coffee & Chocolate wares","id":"THES48886"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"67","id":"THES49731"},"free":"","case":"4","shelf":"15","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Sugar tongs","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Birmingham","id":"x28748"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"late 19th century","earliest":"1850-01-01","latest":"1900-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Given by David Judd","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"2.0","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"14.4","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"5.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Rd, fleur-de-lis, crown, ‘C’, WP possibly for William Page and Company","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":"A8728"},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"These sugar tongs were made by the electroplating method. The manufacturer, Elkington and co founded in Birmingham by George Richard Elkington and his cousin Henry Elkington exploited the development of the new manufacturing process of electroplating, in which silver can be deposited on a base metal by the action of an electric current. Elkingtons revolutionised the silver and plating trades all over the world by marketing electroplate as a cheaper substitute for silver. Electroplate enabled consumers to have the look of silver on their dinner or tea table, which conveyed wealth and status, at a price that many could afford.","briefDescription":"Sugar tongs, electroplated nickel silver, possibly made by William Page and Company, late 19th century, Britain.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"Reason For Production: Retail","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.13-2000"],"accessionNumberNum":"13","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":2000,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-11","recordCreationDate":"2000-03-16","availableToBook":false}}