Featured in this lot are two 1799-1820 British sterling sugar cube tongs made by two different silversmiths. The first sugar cube tong was made by John Lias in London around 1800-1818. John Lias first started in the silversmith industry when he worked as a buckle-maker. After starting his firm in 1791, he started to focus on making fine, sterling kitchenware and utensils. In 1818 he took his son as his partner in the firm, Henry Lias I, and they were joined from 1823 to 1837 by another son, Charles. The sugar cube tong shows a solid sterling construction with embossed designs throughout the entire piece. The designs show intricate detail and feature embossed initials at the top reading, "TRM". On the inside of the tongs, the artists hallmark can be seen stamped into the sterling reading, "IL", along with a lion passant indicating the quality of the silver and a right facing kings face indicating it was made under King George III. The sugar cube tongs show good condition overall with no signs of obvious damage present. They measure 5 1/2" L x 1 3/16" W x 3/4" H. The second sugar cube tong was made by Stephen Adams II in London in 1799. Stephen Adams I was a goldsmith, loriner and warden of the Goldsmiths Company but retired in 1790 when his son, Adams II, entered his first mark. The sugar cube tongs feature a solid sterling construction with embossed designs throughout the entire piece. The tongs feature stampings on the inside of the handles, showing the makers mark "SA", a right facing kings head indicating it was made under King George III, a lion passant showing the quality of silver and the letter "D" showing the year it was made (1799). The sugar cube tongs show good condition overall with no signs of obvious damage present. The tongs measure 5 1/2" L x 1 1/8" W x 5/8" H. The collective weight of the tongs is 55 grams.