File:29F9B7. 17th century pipe tongs. Bottom. (FindID 69658).jpg

English: Gilt copper alloy smoker's tongs. Comprising two arms joined part way along the length with an articulating arrangement. This is formed from a thin leaf of copper alloy projecting from one arm into a narrow recess in the other and fixed with an iron rivet (around which the arms pivot). The arms are decorated and shaped on front and back. At one end the termini of the arms are in the form of stylised human hands set with edges parallel to the arms. Running upwards from the hands the arms curve outwards to form a small sub-circular aperture. Next to this there is a semi-circular depression on each side forming a circular dish. Above this the arms thin towards the inside edge, perhaps as cutting edges to form a pair of snips. Above these the arms join. Beyond the joint the arms are straight. The termini of the arms at the opposite end are different. One side is a flaring, cylindrical, flat ended shape (most likely used as a pipe tamper), the other is a circular plate with the edge parallel to the arm and a central hole with an iron rivet retained (probably used to attach the tongs to a strap to allow them to be suspended from a belt). The arms are decorated with ridges and constrictions front and back and also at the sides where the arms join. There are traces of gilding.