Tableware and Linens

Antique German and Israeli Silver Pastry Tongs ~ Silver Tongs ~ Pastry Scissors

Which piece? The single rose The double rose The forked tongs [Sold out]

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$185.00

• Details
  I just love these pieces and can't have enough of them for my dinner parties, brunches, really anytime as they just please me.
  
  Two of these celebrate the Hildesheimer Rose pattern, and both are made of 800 silver, the European standard for quality silverware. The Hildesheim rose floral design decorates the paddles...a beautiful piece for serving cookies, pastries or breads. One author suggests that these were used for boiled eggs, but I have my doubts... The detail on the handles of this piece is especially sweet on one of these.
  Due to the mark, I believe these were made by German Jews before the war, who founded a company named Hazorfim after the war in Israel.
  
  The tongs with the fork added are made by Albert Betz from Germany. Look closely and see cherubs playing music together, one with cymbals and one with a flute. If you are a silver lover, this piece offers an exceptionally beautiful way to serve at your table. Think Downton Abbey elegance. August Betz created this sweet piece in the early 1930s in a town called Schwäbisch Gmünd in Germany. Pictures never do justice to these lovely pieces, and there are few craftsman with greater skill than Betz.
  
  The story of the Hildesheim Rose, after which this piece is patterned, delights me. The oldest known rose alive today, it has withstood wars and time. Rising 69 feet at the Hildesheim Cathedral, it's an inspirational point for the German nation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thousand-year_Rose
  
  I have guessed at the age, as this piece is similar to others I own from this period. The hinges are nicely formed (hard to find). The piece is stamped 800 but lacks other identifiable marks. However, it is typical of German-made tongs of the Victorian period.
  
  A word of caution...many sellers advertise these pieces as 800 silver when they are silver plate. Be sure that you can see the mark!
  
  The single rose tongs
  Length: 6 1/4 inches
  Paddles: 1 3/4 x 1 5/8 inches
  Weight: 41 grams
  Markings: 800; scythe with an inner number
  
  The double rose tongs
  Length: 6 5/8 inches
  Paddles: 2 3/15 x 1 9/16 inches
  Weight: 58 grams
  Markings: 800; scythe with an inner number
  
  The Betz forked cherub tongs
  Length: 7 inches
  Base Paddle: 1 3/4 x 3 1/2 inches
  Weight: 44 grams
  Markings: 835, AB the mark for Albert Betz
  
  Since these are solid 800 or 835 silver, the standard for German silver, you don't have to worry about the finish wearing off with use. A simple polish removes any accumulating tarnish. (I prefer Hagerty Silversmith's wash with a tarnish preventative. Avoid using silver dips; they'll remove the lovely patina that gathers in the crevices to enhance the detail of these pieces.)
  
  Free of dings and dents; no monogram.
  
  Commensurate with age, the condition is very good to excellent.
  
  To see our other lovely tableware and linens, go here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/NotBeforeJava?ref=search_shop_redirect§ion_id=18216439
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