What would these Silverplate Tongs be used for?

Still sorting through my box of miscellaneous silver-plate items and found these tongs. Would they be used for asparagus or waffles or what? They are signed Italy, but nothing else. TIA! (P.S. I just love going through boxes of this stuff. Am I weird? LOL)

 

How long are they and what about size on the business end? Salad serving on a buffet table was my first thought. Asparagus servers are possible, but waffle and sandwich tongs usually have one side flat instead of rounded.

 

Oh, I forgot, they're 7" long. Over on the 'bay, sellers mostly call them everything in KWs in order to get noticed, but nobody really seems to know what they were used for. One seller has them available for $49.99 plus another $14 to ship. What a bargain!

 

Well, if they're only 7" total, those grabber parts are way too small for most things of any size, including salad. I would just call them buffet tongs.

$63.99 total cost is ridiculous.

 

Buffet tongs is a great way to describe them! Actually, that's likely what they are. In my experience most of the marked Italy stuff came with something else, like a bowl or dish that was somewhat specialized and sold as that perfect wedding gift. My grandmother would have called them "pinch your nose" tongs and demonstrated them, LOL!

 

Could they be sugar cube tongs for tea?

 

I'd call them ice tongs like the following.

https://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/14805686_cartier-sterling-silver-ice-tongs-ca-1940

Asperagus tongs usually have flatter ends.

--- Susan

 

Susan - Geez, the tongs I have are about an exact copy of the sterling tongs in your link. Maybe that's why people purchase them on eBay. When you can't afford the Cartier version . . . buy the silver-plate example. I think I'll list them as ice tongs. Thanks for the link!

 

I love the design !

 

Never one to disregard a re-purposing situation... While I think they look, to me, like ice tongs (Do I hear the Thin Man hovering in the background...?), I do think they would be ideal for my crab-stuffed mushrooms, or my spinach-packed tomatoes.

 

Please go on......my mouth is watering.....

 

Mushrooms are filled with a combination of:

1/3 cup mayonnaise
2/3 cup cream cheese
A splash of sherry
1/3 cup toasted chopped walnuts (or cashews...or water chestnuts)
1/4 cup chopped green onion
1 cup crab meat
And a bit of Old Bay and black pepper
AND the duxelles! Scoop out the mushroom gills (gently), and chop rather finely with the stems, spread on a piece of paper towel, and squosh out the water

Mix all together, correct seasoning if necessary, and stuff the mushrooms. Add bread crumbs on top & spray with Butter Pam. (Or drizzle melted butter)

Bake til golden and bubbly.

 

For reaching those little crust-less triangular sandwiches on the far side of the table?

 

PICKLE!

 

Oh...Yum......Thank you !

 

Silverthwait, oh my goodness, so you're an "Old Bay" (I'll put just a little shake in") cook. Love "Old Bay."

Waaaaaay back when I was a young child it was not available around here so when we made the long car trip to visit three of my mother's sisters and her brother living in Maryland she'd bring a couple of tins back.

Thank goodness it has been available around here in grocery stores for 15 or so years. It's been my "secret ingredient" of choice for years and years.