51/1199

Pipe tongs were used by smokers to pick embers out of the fire with which to light the pipe. This type of tong was known as 'lazy tongs' as they are extendable so the user did not need to leave his chair to reach the ember. They are made of steel and expand in a lattice action. The leaf shaped jaws are serrated on the inside to provide better grip.

1 pair of lazy tongs: metal (steel); good condition

MERL 'Catalogue index' card – 'These tongs are said by the Victoria and Albert Museum to be of 19th century English origin. // Lazy tongs were used by smokers for picking embers out of the fire to light their pipes. They are expandable, hence the name “lazy tongs”, because the user need not leave his chair to reach an ember. // They are made of steel, with scissor handles and leaf shaped jaws, serrated on the inside so that they would grip the coal firmly. They expand in a lattice action on seven central joints with six lateral joints on either side. // When close the tongs measure 4 inches in length and 5 inches in width. When expanded they are 21.5 inches in length and 2 inches in width.', Victoria & Albert Museum No. M346, 1917.

1800-01-01 - 1899-12-31

Nineteenth century