Tongs

Art Historical Context

This elegant pair of silver tongs, crafted by American silversmith Garret Schanck around 1790, exemplifies the refined metalwork of the early Federal period. Measuring just over six inches, these functional yet graceful utensils were likely used for serving sugar at the tea table, a ritual central to social life in post-Revolutionary America. Schanck’s work reflects the growing sophistication of domestic silver production in the young United States, where such objects combined practicality with understated elegance. Silver’s enduring appeal as a medium lies in its durability and luminous qual...