Late Georgian sterling silver tongs, crested, William Chawner II, London 1822.
Late Georgian sterling silver tongs, crested, William Chawner II, London 1822.
Lovely pair of George IV sterling silver sugar nips, crested, nice gauge with crisp hallmarks for William Chawner II, London 1822.
The coat of arms depicts a swan with wings overt emerging from a ducal coronet, within the blazon a lion rampant.
This is likely related to the Stafford family crest, which similarly displays a Demi-Swan rising with wings overt out of a ducal coronet (Fairbairn's Book of Crests, 1905 ed.).
The swan has a long history in English heraldry, with medieval references dating to the de Bohun family, Henry V’s matrilineal family. The descendants include the Lancastrian Plantagenets as well as the Staffords.
The mark here is Chawner’s first and earliest mark, and this piece is a fine example of Georgian silver.
Price marked at $300 AUD.
Measurements: 15cm length, 50.8grams total weight.
Excellent antique condition, light wear overall. Hallmarks crisp and clear.