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Dessert Fork

1800-1820 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type

Smaller forks evolved in the early 18th century as cutlery became specialised. A desire to eat more elegantly prompted the need for table equipment that could be used only at particular times in the meal or with certain foods. The fruit or dessert fork was designed for use with the last course or dessert, which might consist of fresh or candied fruit. A Victorian etiquette book of 1880 advised, 'In eating pears or apples, they would be peeled and cut into halves and quarters with a fruit knife and fork.'

Design & Designing

Dessert cutlery had always been more highly decorated than that for the earlier courses, to reflect the status and expense of the dessert. Handles, in particular, were often more ornate. This fork has a handle made of ivory but mother-of-pearl could also be used to add to the effect of luxury. In the Victorian period fruit forks were commonly sold with fruit knives in boxed sets of a dozen. The manufacturer Elkington & Co. could charge up to £22 a set in 1885 for richly engraved blades with carved handles and accompanying matching knives.



Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver, die stamped
Brief description
Dessert Fork, silver with mother of pearl handle, one of a set of six knives and six forks, England, 1800-1820
Physical description
Silver tines and stem with mother of pearl handle
Dimensions
  • Length: 152mm
  • Width: 14mm
  • Height: 6mm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • Duty and sterling mark and maker's mark of 'J.W'. on the silver stem of the fork. (On the front of the silver stem of the handle, punched)
  • 'JA' engraved (On back of silver fork.)
Gallery label
Dessert Fork, one of a set of six knives and forks, Silver with mother of pearl handle, Marks: duty and sterling guarantee marks only, England, 1800-1820 Miss D.B. Simpson Bequest M. 198A-1977
Credit line
Bequeathed by Miss D.B. Simpson
Historical context
Object Type

Smaller forks evolved in the early 18th century as cutlery became specialised. A desire to eat more elegantly prompted the need for table equipment that could be used only at particular times in the meal or with certain foods. The fruit or dessert fork was designed for use with the last course or dessert, which might consist of fresh or candied fruit. A Victorian etiquette book of 1880 advised, 'In eating pears or apples, they would be peeled and cut into halves and quarters with a fruit knife and fork.'

Design & Designing

Dessert cutlery had always been more highly decorated than that for the earlier courses, to reflect the status and expense of the dessert. Handles, in particular, were often more ornate. This fork has a handle made of mother-of-pearl (the most expensive material used for such purposes), which adds to the effect of luxury. In the Victorian period fruit forks were commonly sold with fruit knives in boxed sets of a dozen. The manufacturer Elkington & Co. could charge up to £22 a set in 1885 for richly engraved blades with carved handles and accompanying matching knives.

Production
Date of manufacture uncertain as date letter is missing. However, other knives and forks in the set can be dated to between 1800-10 and the engraving of '1819' on the blade of the knives in the set may give the upper end of the date range.
Summary
Object Type

Smaller forks evolved in the early 18th century as cutlery became specialised. A desire to eat more elegantly prompted the need for table equipment that could be used only at particular times in the meal or with certain foods. The fruit or dessert fork was designed for use with the last course or dessert, which might consist of fresh or candied fruit. A Victorian etiquette book of 1880 advised, 'In eating pears or apples, they would be peeled and cut into halves and quarters with a fruit knife and fork.'

Design & Designing

Dessert cutlery had always been more highly decorated than that for the earlier courses, to reflect the status and expense of the dessert. Handles, in particular, were often more ornate. This fork has a handle made of ivory but mother-of-pearl could also be used to add to the effect of luxury. In the Victorian period fruit forks were commonly sold with fruit knives in boxed sets of a dozen. The manufacturer Elkington & Co. could charge up to £22 a set in 1885 for richly engraved blades with carved handles and accompanying matching knives.

Bibliographic references
  • Kenneth Crisp Jones ed., The Silversmiths of Birmingham and their Marks 1750-1980, London, 1981, p. 354
  • Ian Pickford (ed.), Jackson's Silver and Gold Marks of England, Scotland and Ireland, Antique Collectors@ Club, 1989
Collection
Accession number
M.198H-1977

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Record createdSeptember 10, 2003
Record URL
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