Posted 7 years ago
Curiousnes…
(1 item)
We found these at a thrift store and are curious what they are. Silver. 6”. Handle is decorated with grapes, leaves, flowers, and something that looks kind of like a red panda.
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They are grape snips, I'd say.
Grape snips, grape shears, grape scissors ...... etc.
Very popular from the mid 19th century to the mid 20th century. The handles are longer than the blades to allow one to reach in to cut the grape stalk without puncturing the grapes. The sterling silver models, from what I've found, are from a later period. I've seen these dated anywhere from the 1930's to late 1960's. This design has been replicated for years. Without some markings, it's hard to tell for sure.
The significance of the fox on the handles with grapes (not a red panda) comes from the old Aesop's fable "The fox and the grapes". That's where the term "sour grapes" comes from. The fox couldn't reach the grapes, so he said "oh, you're probably sour anyway".
Thank you so much for helping me figure what these are!!