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Thomas Ollivant was a Manchester
maker, although his mark was registered in London. These sugar tongs are
interesting for the following reason.
Thomas Ollivant registered as a
Plate-worker in London in May 1789. It is believed that he was more of
a retailer than a Plate-worker, buying London stock for resale, probably in
Manchester. "Touching Gold & Silver", a catalogue of an exhibition at
Goldsmith's hall in November 1978 discusses a cream jug with Thomas
Ollivant's marks over-striking Peter & Jonathan Bateman marks. It
therefore seems that Thomas Ollivant bought silver from the Bateman
workshops and over-struck his own mark before selling the item.
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For all 4 pairs
of tongs, the maker's mark is over-struck on top of another mark.
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With the first & second pairs, the mark underneath looks extremely like it could be Hester Bateman's
mark
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Notice the overall style of
the tongs and the similarity with Hester Bateman's
work.
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My theory is therefore that
Thomas Ollivant bought these tongs from Hester Bateman, over-struck with his
own mark and then sold them. Perhaps more tongs will come to light,
showing the Thomas Ollivant mark over-struck on a Bateman mark, or even the
mark of another maker. Has anyone seen a pair of Thomas Ollivant tongs
where the maker's mark is NOT over-struck?
Richard Evans
of Shrewsbury is another provincial maker who appeared to have done the
same.
Anyone want to offer any comment?
tongtwister@silversugartongs.com. |
