Sugar nips are a large pair of pincers with sharp blades, designed to cut sugar from a block. [1] Before the introduction of granulated and cube sugars in the second half of the 19th century, [2] the domestic consumer purchased sugar in the form of a sugarloaf, [3] or at least a part of one, and pieces were cut from it by hand using sugar nips [4] and other tools, such as sugar hammer. Greater leverage and improved safety was provided by heavier sugar nips set in a wooden base for counter- and table-top use. [5]
