Griffon Scissors Appraisal

Vintage Griffon Decorative Embroidery Scissors

This item is a pair of vintage embroidery or dressmaker scissors produced by Griffon. The scissors feature highly decorative ornate handles cast with intricate scrollwork, floral motifs, and geometric band patterns, suggesting a late Victorian or early 20th-century aesthetic style. The handles are finished in a silver-toned metal, likely high-grade steel with potential nickel or silver plating. The blades show significant evidence of age and use, characterized by heavy oxidation, surface pitting, and dark tarnish spots across the flat of the metal. The cursive 'Griffon' brand name is clearly stamped near the pivot screw, a hallmark of the Griffon Cutlery Works which operated in the United States and Germany. The construction utilizes a traditional flat-head pivot screw, which appears slightly worn. The finger loops show some thinning and loss of the original finish, exposing a darker base metal underneath. Overall, while the handles retain their aesthetic charm and crisp casting details, the blades require professional restoration to remove corrosion and restore the cutting edge. This piece represents typical high-utility craftsmanship of the mid-20th century where everyday tools were embellished with decorative flair.