George Richardson

           Makers Mark    Poorly Struck or Poor Punch?

These tongs were sold as bearing a CB makers mark, but closer inspection shows a definite G as the first letter. The mis-strike/poorly made punch makes the second letter difficult to be sure of( it could be an B a P or an R) but the and the down stroke looks like a stand alone as in a P or an R, whreas the loop looks less rounded than one would expect on a P. The flying serif on the leading G and what is discernable on the R matches with the mark for George Richardson (Grimwade 884). also close comparison with George Burrows I mark shows distinct differences in both letters.
I have therefore attributed them to the very short lived George Richardson who registered his only mark as a smallworker in 1760 and was presumably dead by 1864 when his wife, Mary registered her mark at the same address in Clerkenwell.

There is a small flaw in one arm which may be an original repair/strengthening but is very slight. They are relatively light at 1 1/8 ounces and are 5 1/2 ins long.  The bow is monogrammed AH.

Monogrammed Bow