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Fork
Martin, Hall & Co - Enlarge image
Fork
- Place of origin:
London, England (made)
- Date:
ca. 1872 (made)
- Artist/Maker:
Martin, Hall & Co (maker)
- Materials and Techniques:
Silver
- Museum number:
M.6A-1967
- Gallery location:
In Storage
Object Type
This table fork would have been used for eating the meat and vegetables of the main courses of a meal.
Design Registration
The design of this table fork was protected by an Act of Parliament. In 1842 the Design Act created 13 classes of ornamental designs including manufactured goods. Metalwork was in Class 1. The Act gave three years' copyright protection to designs, and many manufacturers took advantage of the scheme. The manufacturer of this fork, Martin Hall & Co. Ltd., only registered the design of the handle, the pattern of which was called 'Venetian'. The design register specifies 'Handle for knives, spoons, forks'.
Manufacturers
The manufacturer of the table fork, Martin Hall & Co. Ltd., was founded in Sheffield, Yorkshire, in 1820. It supplied retailers in local and national markets, as well as countries throughout the British empire, with an enormous variety of silver and plated household goods. These ranged from tablewares to salvers and candlesticks.
