18th century hand-forged Pipe Tongs & pipe, as in museums

This is another unique 18^th century item being offered, it is a pair of hand-forged pipe tongs with a pipe bowl. It measures 13 ½” x 2 ¼” in the closed position. During the 18th century, pipe tongs (also called ember tongs) were multi-purpose tools used by tobacco smokers to light, pack, and clean clay pipes before matches were invented.

These tongs were used to lift glowing embers from a brazier, campfire, or fireplace to a tobacco-filled pipe bowl. The arms of the tool featured small flat or rounded caps, used as a tamper (or stopper) to press down the loose tobacco inside the bowl.

These tongs still open and closes very easily. There are examples in the Colonial Williamsburg Museum and in the Fort William Henry Museum (see pictures). I have also included a pipe bowl that was recovered at Fort Ticonderoga, NY.

With the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding this year, interest in the Revolutionary War and its relics is significantly increasing. This renewed enthusiasm is driving the demand for virtually all Revolutionary War artifacts, further contributing to their scarcity and rising prices.

I am witnessing a notable uptick in purchases of these items, which reflects the growing celebrations for the anniversary and the heightened value of Revolutionary War memorabilia.