Sugar tongs
ca. 1772
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
15/16 x 5 1/4 in. (2.4 x 13.3 cm); 1 oz. 8 dwt. (43.1 g)
Classification
Tongs
Culture
American
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Purchase, Mr. and Mrs. Robert G. Goelet Gift, 2012
Accession Number
2012.244.4
Art Historical Context
Crafted around 1772 by the esteemed American silversmith Myer Myers, these sugar tongs exemplify the refined artistry of colonial-era metalwork. Fashioned from silver, they are petite—measuring just 15/16 x 5 1/4 inches (2.4 x 13.3 cm) and weighing 1 oz. 8 dwt. (43.1 g)—designed for the precise task of pinching and serving sugar lumps from a bowl. Their modest scale belies their status as a luxury item, highlighting Myers's skill in creating functional yet elegant objects for everyday elite use. In 18th-century America, silverware like these tongs symbolized wealth and sophistication. Sugar, ...