A pair of Victorian electroplated asparagus tongs

A pair of Victorian electroplated asparagus tongs, The 96th Regiment of Foot,

by Elkington, Mason and Co., 1856,

Kings pattern, the blades with pierced scroll decoration, the terminal with the regimental badge, length 19.4cm.

Provenance: a Private Collection of Regimental Silver.

Raised in 1824, they were deployed as garrison duties in Nova Scotia, West Indies and Ireland until 1839. They guarded convict shipping to Australia and fought in the 1st Maori war of 1845-46. They returned to England after 18 years abroad. In 1881 they merged with the 63rd foot to form the Manchester Regiment.