**Originally Listed At $250**

North America, United States, ca. late 18th to early 19th century CE. A fine set of rushlight tongs that was used to hold burning lengths of rush pith soaked in fat or grease. The tongs consist of a tapered socketing shaft with a hinge and one tong arm on top as well as a second tong arm extending above a compressed midsection. Beneath the middle is a V-shaped handle with a wavy spring arm that can be compressed against the socketing shaft to open the tongs and released to gradually clamp them shut. A fragmentary wooden pole is inserted into the shaft to illustrate how the tongs were supported atop a footed mount to produce light throughout a room. Size: 7.625" L x 2.625" W (19.4 cm x 6.7 cm); 9.4" H (23.9 cm) with included wooden pole fragment.

Provenance: ex-estate of Eldert Bontekoe, Pegasi Numismatics, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA, acquired before 2000

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#159894

Wooden pole is a modern addition and is screwed into place within the socketing shaft. Slight bending to tong arms and handle, with light encrustations, and expected but light oxidation, otherwise intact and very good. Nice iron patina throughout. Tongs still articulate as intended.