March 21, 2011

What Are These?

I was opening a package from Scotland today with my friend David, and one of the items had us both baffled. 3-21 003 They are some sort of Victorian-era kitchen implement, but we’ve no idea what. When I mentioned that they looked vaguely gynecological, David turned a rather unbecoming shade of green.

They’re scissor-like, with one end having a closed loop and the other having a fork-sort of end. They’re about seven inches long.3-21 007 The pivot point is marked, but I think it just says the manufacturer’s name. 3-21 004I can’t even begin to describe this to look on the internet to see what they are. 3-21 001 Any ideas?

25 comments:

  1. My thought was as Pauls some tongs mabe that need the fork end to snag!

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    Karena
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  2. Poultry tongs is my guess, excellent for putting the pieces in the hot frying pan.

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  3. Asparagus tongs: antique, I've seen a pair from Denmark with a similar design before. I can't read the full manufacturer name though so its hard to tell.

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  4. I think they were for more generalised table use when serving vegetables in the era when silver service was going
    out of fashion. Asparagus tongs tended to have slender tongs whose end came together in two halves of a cylinder to grasp an asparagus spear neatly, c.f.:

    http://blog.ideasinfood.com/.a/6a00d83451f83a69e2011570980de2970b-pi

    David :-)

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  5. long green bean server or other veggies

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  6. I am not sure....but be careful! xv

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  7. http://www.leonceantiques.com/product_info.php/manufacturers_id/23/products_id/4342?osCsid=dt6lh6b0so8bpm96jdbgeqf1q2

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  8. I like Vicki's reply!! But Asparagus comes to mind and the chicken idea isn't too bad. Have a great week. Mary

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  9. I will check my book on kitchenalia as soon as I get to my office!

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  10. Sausage, hard boiled eggs... something that would roll without the forked side.

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  11. If they were asparagus tongs, the tongs would be wider; I think this is a pie lifter but I am not positive. "300 Years of Kitchen Collecting" does not have as many illustrations as I hoped.

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  12. My friend Tom swear that they are meat and vegetable tongs. They were for grabbing a hunk of stewed meat and some vegetables at the same time. He included a link to their contemporary counterpart on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Piazza-12-Inch-Buffet-Vegetable-Stainless/dp/B0023W6T8K

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  13. I believe they were used when food was served at table in the good old days when we had "help". Interesting piece.

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  14. Keep in mind that they're only 7 inches long! Too small for salads, and probably meats and veg, too!

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  15. They certainly look ominous.
    They're probably a disciplinary tool the hostess used to keep her guests in line if they got a little rowdy.
    Elbows on the table?
    Just give them a little poke.
    Throwing food?
    Give them a grab.
    And so on.

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  16. Perhaps they are a pastry tong? The manufacturer is Carl Wusthof of Solingen, Germany. I can't read the other word between those two names though.

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  17. I think these tongs would be used to serve meat, i.e., slices of roast beef, chicken, pork, etc. Obviously, the sharp prongs are meant to stab something that might otherwise be hard to pick up with a spoon.

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  18. My son Sheridan and his friend Tarquin have several in their collection of antique implements. "Victorian Boudoir Pinching Tongs", he calls them. Not quite sure what they're used for. Some sort of strange continental custom I suppose.

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  19. Woops, the 7" size doesn't support my fried chicken suggestion. (But it shows what is on my mind). The curved element and the tines are both important clues with the small size. Dealers at antiques shows that specialize in silver would be able to tell you, I feel sure.

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  20. I had something similar years ago, ~liberated~ by an ex-roommate. My Gramma said it was a baked potato server.

    Otherwise, I have no clue.

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