A rare novelty piece of medical silverware. Markers mark of J&J impressed to base. Has some gold gilding around hidden baby and there is no full English hallmark so listed as white metal. These are not scissors as they have clamps rather than blades. In many ways they are a triumph of design. Firstly the design is of a stork synonymous with birth because of their use to clamp the umbilical chord closed when it was cut. This is also the reason why there is a swaddled baby included in the design as shown. They were made of silver because in the days before the invention of stainless steel ( around 1912) silver could be boiled repeatedly and not rust. They were free standing so that after being sterilised by boiling they could stand without the clamp coming into contact with hands or other surfaces prior to use. The design dates back to Georgian times. Reputedly in Victorian times they were used to discretely announce an impending arrival by being placed on the mantlepiece as it was considered bad luck to officially announce a pregnancy too early.