This is a fascinating maker's mark.  Probably mainly because it takes some research to find out about it!  Neither Grimwade nor Jackson record this mark, but thanks especially to Vic Bowman and Michael Baggot, we have some facts.

Francis Parsons earliest recording is in 1797, as was Stephen Creese, FP over SC, also seen on sugar tongs, (Grimwade's No 3575).

It seems that partnerships were made and ended with little recording of the detail at the time.

In this case, the mark is a partnership with Joseph Goss, who is first recorded in 1805.  We have two pairs of tongs here, both are Francis Parsons & Joseph Goss but the maker's marks are different ways around!!

The first pair of  silver sugar tongs are probably going to be 1805-09.  They are plain sugar tongs with a lovely engraved Lion.

The second pair are dated 1813 and are fiddle pattern.

Click here to see some tongs by Francis Parsons alone

Click here to see some tongs by Francis Parsons & Stephen Creese