George III Silver Sugar Tongs with Bright Cut Decoration

• Circa - A Latin term meaning 'about', often used in the antique trade to give an approximate date for the piece, usually considered to be five years on either side of the circa year. Thus, circa 1900 means the piece was made about 1900, probably between 1895 and 1905. The expression is sometimes abbreviated to c.1900.
• George Iii - George III (1738 - 1820) was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1760 to 1820.
• Sterling Silver - Sterling silver is a mixture of 92.5% pure silver and 7.5% of another metal, usually copper. Fine silver is 99.9% pure silver, and is relatively soft and the addition of the very small amount of copper gives the metal enough strength and hardness to be worked into jewellery, decorative and household objects.
• Feather Edge - A feather edge on a silver item refers to a decorative border that is created by using a series of thin, closely spaced lines that resemble the feathers of a bird. The feather edge design, first applied in Britain circa 1765, is often applied to the edges or rims of silver plates, bowls, or other hollow ware to create a decorative border. It's a common design element in antique and vintage silver items and is also used on modern pieces. The feather edge is created by hand, using a specialized tool called a burin, and is often combined with other decorative elements, such as engraving or chasing, to create a unique and ornate design.
• Bright Cut Decoration - Bright cut decoration is a technique used to decorate silver and other metal objects, such as jewellery and flatware, with intricate and detailed patterns. The technique involves using a small, sharp tool called a graver to carve designs into the surface of the metal. These designs are then polished, creating a bright, reflective surface that contrasts with the surrounding metal. The designs can be simple or complex, and can include geometric shapes, scrolling vines, and other decorative elements. The technique is highly skilled and requires a lot of precision, patience and attention to detail.
  
  Bright cut decoration was widely used in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly in the silverware and jewellery industries. It was popular in the United States, Great Britain and Europe.
  
  Today, bright cut decoration is still used by some craftsmen and artists, but it is considered a traditional technique and is not as widely used as it was in the past. However, the bright cut decoration on a silver object is still considered a sign of quality and craftsmanship and is highly prized by collectors of antique silver and other metal objects.

This item has been included into following indexes:

• silver cutlery / flatware, patterns - feather pattern 23
• sugar tongs and nips - silver items 375