San Francisco, 20th century, a pair of sterling silver asparagus tongs by Dirk van Erp, marked Dirk van Erp / San Francisco / Sterling; lg. 6.25 in., silver wt. 3.99ozt(134.5g). Dirk Van Erp (1860-1933) opened his own studio in 1908 in Oakland, California. He moved his studio to San Francisco in 1909 and the studio remained under the direction of his son until 1977. Van Erp made hammered copper accessories, including vases, desk sets, bookends, candlesticks, jardinieres, and trays, but he is best known for his lamps.