Fake or Genuine.

I got these sugar snips but after studying the hallmarks I’m concerned that I may have a Fake! Alternately if it is genuine then in 1798 maybe hallmarking wasn’t so objective. Anyhow I am confident my fellow members have sufficient knowledge to examine the piece and give me the advice I seek.
Frank

 

Was it presented to you as sterling from 1798? Because the marks on the piece are not genuine for any year and not sterling. The "lion passant" is facing the wrong way for starters,

 

A reversed lion has been seen on silver items before in particular those assayed at York. Google has photographs of the reversed lion in fact so it may be standardised now to face left but it wasn’t once.

 

Here’s more info
https://www.antiquers.com/threads/hallmarks-right-facing-lion-passant.7963/

 

Thank you Houseful.

Frank see also this list of marks for London by date. As you will see, there is not a single "sterling" lion facing right.

http://www.silvermakersmarks.co.uk/Dates/London/Date Letters B.html

 

While we are at it, the city mark for London (the animal's face on the right end of your example) was first used officially in 1837 in conjunction with the beginning of Victoria's reign.

 

Honestly, I believe it to be a fake. The hallmarks seem to me to be more etched then stamped.
Apart from the lion, the monarchs head doesn’t sit right.

FY interest I attach further examples of the reversed lion.

 

I'd never heard the term "sugar snips" and so off to google...

Sugar "nips" have a scissor action, yours are sugar tongs.
In this photo, the first item is a pair of sugar nips, the other four items are sugar tongs:

 

Whoever you got this from, don't believe them again unless you are extremely careful in checking out the marks. All of them, not just the lion and be sure they present a consistent picture of the age etc.

 

It came in a joblot of ‘tongs’ , there was 3 silver, 4 plated and the “Fake”. Paid £7. If nothing else it’s been enlightening ! These were a “snip” .
Frank

 

Really interesting! Thankyou for posting this.
I buy lots of cheap bits and pieces of jewellery that I can learn from, as long as I don’t pay too much it’s worth it for the knowledge.
Out of interest, have you acid tested them or with a magnet?

 

No I haven’t, I had decided it was a fake because of the markings but on the off chance I could possibly be wrong I thought I’d seek other opinion. Hallmarks are in themselves sometimes deceiving and there are a lot of ‘old’ books at car boots etc going for pennies , worth buying for information.
Frank

 

I’d test anyway with a magnet at least as I’m a bit like that

 

And silver acids. Sometimes people put fake marks on real precious metals. If that's the case, someone trashed a perfectly good sugar tongs. If they're silver-plated they can be used or binned as the buyer chooses. You just can't resell them.

 

I had an odd looking silver mark that wanted to be English but turned out to be Canadian. If not coin silver (or fake) you might want to check Canadian. They at times used a right facing kitty.

http://www.silvercollection.it/CANADASILVERSMITHSA.html

 

Remember, if it attracts a magnet that can only tell you there is ferrous metal present. If it does not attract a magnet that is not a proof of silver, there are a lot of silver-colored metals that will not attract a magnet.

I know a lot of dealers at my local flea who buy into this, I try to tell them but sometimes they just don't want to know

 

It lets me know if I should waste acid on it or not bother!

 

AHHH, but that's because you know what a magnet will tell you, smart lady

 

Thankyou but probably a very debatable point!

 

THat's a very badly faked mark. As others have said, they may still be silver.