Sugar Tongs
ca. 1760
Medium
metalwork
Classification
metalwork
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William M. Cahn, Jr. in memory of Rosalie S. and William M. Cahn
Accession Number
1981-49-19
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Sugar Tongs** *William Harrison I, ca. 1760* *Metalwork, Smithsonian American Art Museum**Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William M.ahn, Jr. in of Rosalie S. William M. Cahn* Crafted around 1760 by William Harrison I, these sugar tongs exemplify the refined metalwork of colonial America. As functional yet elegant utensils designed for serving lump sugar during tea rituals, they reflect the era's growing appreciation for sophisticated tableware among the emerging merchant class. Sugar, a luxury import from Caribbean plantations, symbolized wealth and hospitality, making such pieces essential to genteel social life in pre-Revolutionary households. In the hands of skilled silversmiths like Harrison, metalwork blended utility with artistry. These tongs likely feature precise forging and possible hallmarks or chasing techniques, showcasing the precision required to create durable, balanced tools from silver or similar alloys. Though research on this specific piece is ongoing, it stands as a testament to the American decorative arts tradition, bridging everyday domesticity and craftsmanship. Now part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection, this gift honors the Cahn family legacy, inviting us to ponder how humble objects like sugar tongs captured the aspirations of 18th-century life. (198 words)