French Art Deco Sugar & Ice Tongs, silver plated, c.1920, France
€129.00You'll find these to be very tactile items—there is a natural urge to push the button on these silver-plated, French Art Deco sugar and ice tongs. The Machine Age design and functionality are still crisp and a wonderful example of how Art Deco design and tableware were being brought into people's homes (and chateaux). I mention chateau because these came to me from a sale at a chateau full of antiques in southern France.
Having been stored in their original box has offered some protection against ageing and also thankfully kept the original pair together—a rare opportunity indeed. As you will see from the photos, the box has taken some of the damage that the tongs might otherwise have suffered.
Almost Bauhaus in style, and the epitome of Machine Age French Art Deco design, from a time and a place where sugar must be taken with strong, short, coffee—and ice must be served with pastis. Often at the same sitting. Breakfast?
Ask me about ice buckets if you can't see any listed: I may have some Gallia/Christofle ones, and others.
