While knives and spoons have such a venerable record that they cannot be

attributed to any one place or time of origin, the introduction of the fork can

be more definitely traced. The design of the fork is very ancient. Large forks

are referred to as having been found in the remains of early civilization, but

they were used as weapons and not for eating. The fork as a weapon is well-known

to everyone because of its association with such mythological characters such as

Triton and Neptune and, of course, the Devil.

Left: 16th Century fork, handle bears the Arms of Cosmo de Medici, First Duke of Tuscany.

The fork is also known to have been used as early as 600 A.D. in connection with

viands, but it was regarded for a long time only as a useful utensil for serving

them. At least that is true of forks made of metal. It seems logical to suppose

that man used a one or two-pronged fork in the form of a stick to hold food over

a fire. One natually wonders that the fork did not become a common utensil all

through the ages.

Above: Left 1704 3-tined English fork. Right A two-tined 9th Century Silver Fork, Byzantine design found buried with a silver spoon and 70 Saxon coins at Semington, Wiltshire.

However, we find the fork missing from the table as an implement for general use until

the early 16th Century, when it suddenly appeared in Italy among a few of the

members of the nobility and upper classes. It had been used for some time before

that, in rare instances, for the eating of special dishes and delicacies, such as

preserved pears.

Above: Left A sucket fork used for sweet meats such as prunes and raisins preserved in a thick syrup. Also used as a spoon. Right 17th Century 2-tine fork with steel prongs and Agate handle.

Italy is given credit for the introduction of the fork by many,

but it is believed that certain authorities are more nearly correct when they say

that potentates who came to Italy from the center of the Byzantine Empire had the

honor of showing the Italians how to use this useful article. No satisfactory

records can be found of the duration or prevalence of use of the fork there, but

we know that the Italians were getting many ideas from the Byzantine Empire

around that time.

The fork was not taken up immediately by the common people because its use was

regarded as effeminate. Forks with one, two, three and four tines (prongs) were

among the very early models but the two-tined forks were perhaps more common.

Left: 16th Century fork in gilded bronze, Jasper handle.

A few decades after the upper classes began putting forks into general use, the

other people in Italy adopted them also. It was about the same time that the use

of table knives became very common, although they had found their way to the

table before that. Common people in other countries accepted the fork more

slowly. It was not until the 17th Century that the fork began to be used in

England. The clergy even protested it as a sacrilege, in that it provided a

substitute for the God-given fingers. However, the usefulness of the fork won it

a permanent place at the table against all protest. It was along the lines of

the natural progress for England to eventually borrow the fork from Italy, for

Italy was the center of culture and refinement.

Some of the very first forks made for general use were really works of art. They

were identical with modern forks, except for the fact that they had only two

tines or prongs. There is not much development in design to relate. The only

outstanding features are the inclusion of the fork in a set of utensils carried

in a scabbard. Also a combination of a fork with a folding spoon inside.

Left: Fork with Mother of Pearl and ivory handle set in gilt, iron prongs.

There were some spoons made with fixed handles having a fork at the end of the handle.

People who could not afford silver used forks, knives and spoons of pewter. Below: Combination spoon, fork and toothpick, made to fold and carry in the pocket.