Anglo-Indian Benares Silver-Plated Sugar Tongs
Flatware - Serving Piece (Sugar Tongs) · Unknown Indian or British Colonial Maker retailing for the export market, stamped with faux hallmarks and the city name 'BENARES'
Pattern: Colonial Export Pattern
Type
Flatware - Serving Piece (Sugar Tongs)
Maker
Unknown Indian or British Colonial Maker retailing for the export market, stamped with faux hallmarks and the city name 'BENARES'
Material
Silver-plated base metal (likely nickel silver or brass alloy underneath, indicated by EP-style faux marks)
Dimensions
Standard sugar tong size, approximately 10 to 15 cm in length, lightweight export souvenir scale
Description
An intriguing piece of colonial export metalwork, these sugar tongs feature a series of pseudo-hallmarks purposely struck to mimic traditional English silver punches, alongside the clear stamp of 'BENARES'. Manufactured in India during the British Raj for export and travelers, such items combined local metalworking traditions with European functional forms and playful imitations of British hallmark systems.
Key Features
The presence of simulated British hallmarks alongside a clear 'BENARES' geographical stamp, characteristic of colonial-era export souvenirs
Material & Composition
Silver-plated base metal (likely nickel silver or brass alloy underneath, indicated by EP-style faux marks)
Finish & Decoration
Polished metal surface with stamped pseudo-hallmarks and the place name 'BENARES', reflecting colonial-era trade souvenir styles
Hallmarks & Stamps
Series of faux punch marks designed to mimic traditional British hallmarks (shield shapes, a crown, initials 'HP' or similar, and an oval mark), followed by the stamped rectangular cartouche containing the word 'BENARES'
Construction Details
Machine-cut or pressed sheet metal with a sprung central arch, typical of mid-to-late 19th or 20th-century souvenir manufacturing
Functional Features
Sprung bow design intended for gripping and serving sugar cubes during tea service
Handle & Grip Details
Continuous sprung metal arms with plain or minimally shaped terminal pads
Craftsmanship Details
Functional export-grade manufacture, combining pressed metal shaping with decorative hand-stamping of pseudo-hallmarks
Authentication Indicators
The hallmarks are clearly pseudo-marks rather than official assay office marks, designed to evoke British silver standards for export markets rather than denote actual .925 sterling silver
Origin & Manufacturing
Benares (Varanasi), India, produced for British export and the tourist souvenir trade
Era & Period
British Colonial Period (Late 19th to Mid 20th Century)
Age Estimate
Circa 1880-1940, during the height of the British colonial export trade in Indian metalwork
Cultural Significance
Reflects the complex commercial and cultural exchanges of the British colonial period, highlighting how local craftsmanship adapted to European domestic rituals like afternoon tea
Condition Notes
Good vintage condition with minor surface scratches and normal wear to the silver plating, typical of age and utilitarian use. Grade: Very Good
Value Estimate
Low to moderate collector value, typically ranging from $15 to $50 USD depending on condition and collector interest in colonial ephemera
Care & Maintenance
Clean gently with a soft cloth and mild soapy water. Avoid harsh silver dips, as the item is silver-plated over a base metal and aggressive cleaning can wear through the thin plating layer
Similar Pieces
Other Benares export brass and EPNS (Electro-Plated Nickel Silver) serving pieces, crumb scoops, and tea strainers bearing pseudo-hallmarks
Interesting Facts
During the British Raj, artisans in Benares (now Varanasi) produced vast quantities of brass, copper, and silver-plated wares specifically styled to appeal to British expatriates and tourists, often utilizing faux British hallmark stamps as a novelty or quality assurance marker
Notes
Sugar tongs