Ornate, Eagle Claw Tongs, Imperfect

Price: £18

Dimensions: Height 10.5 cm, Length 4.5 cm (4.1 in x 1.8 in)

We fell utterly in love with these wonderfully ornate silver-plated claw tongs, discovered tucked away at the bottom of a market drawer. Their gloriously old-world handles are worked with Japanese-inspired fans, flowering branches and delicate birds, while the tiny talon ends are made for plucking a sugar lump, an ice cube or, more importantly, causing a bit of conversation at the table.

The marks tell us they are electroplated silver, marked EP, with an A1 quality designation, rather than solid sterling silver. This is entirely in keeping with finely decorated tableware of the late Victorian and early 20th-century period, when silver plate made theatrical, beautifully detailed pieces available for everyday entertaining.

One little toe did not come out perfectly in the casting, which is precisely why we adore them. That tiny imperfection gives them a lovely humanity, a reminder that the things we treasure most are rarely the most polished. Ornate claw-ended tongs such as these were used for table service and ice, bringing a touch of ceremony to even the smallest domestic ritual.

We think they would make the most wonderful christening present, accompanied by the note: “Life may not turn out perfect, but it will always be beautiful, like these tongs.” A tiny, eccentric keepsake for a life well lived.