Not currently on display at the V&A

Fork

ca. 1750 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a fork handle of a pair with a knife. The objects are made in France, probably in Dieppe in about 1750. The ivory handle of the knife is carved with the figure of a male in classicising armour with bow and quiver, while the handle of the fork is representing a female figure holding a heart in her left hand, and what seems to be a sheaf of corn in her right. They were called Mars and Venus respectively by Longhurst, however their exact identification remains uncertain. The female figure could well be the goddess Ceres.
Knives have been used since prehistoric times, but the history of knives, forks and spoons for eating in Europe probably commenced in the fourteenth century, and their use became accepted by the sixteenth century. Until the late seventeenth century it seems to have been common practice for people to carry their own cutlery, often in a leather case. Ebony, ivory, fish skin, tortoiseshell, amber, bone, horn and shell were all popular for decorating cutlery. Around 1730 ceramic handles were introduced to Europe from China. Although cutlers were required by their guilds to be able to make a complete knife, handles of carved ivory, silver, bronze and glass were usually imported or made by specialist craftsmen.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Carved ivory and copper alloy
Brief description
Fork handle (of a pair with a knife), ivory and copper alloy, French (probably Dieppe), ca. 1750
Physical description
Fork with ivory handle carved with a female figure holding a heart in her left hand, and what seems to be a sheaf of corn in her right.
Dimensions
  • Whole length: 13.6cm
  • Ivory alone length: 7cm
Object history
Bought in 1870 (vendor unrecorded).
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is a fork handle of a pair with a knife. The objects are made in France, probably in Dieppe in about 1750. The ivory handle of the knife is carved with the figure of a male in classicising armour with bow and quiver, while the handle of the fork is representing a female figure holding a heart in her left hand, and what seems to be a sheaf of corn in her right. They were called Mars and Venus respectively by Longhurst, however their exact identification remains uncertain. The female figure could well be the goddess Ceres.
Knives have been used since prehistoric times, but the history of knives, forks and spoons for eating in Europe probably commenced in the fourteenth century, and their use became accepted by the sixteenth century. Until the late seventeenth century it seems to have been common practice for people to carry their own cutlery, often in a leather case. Ebony, ivory, fish skin, tortoiseshell, amber, bone, horn and shell were all popular for decorating cutlery. Around 1730 ceramic handles were introduced to Europe from China. Although cutlers were required by their guilds to be able to make a complete knife, handles of carved ivory, silver, bronze and glass were usually imported or made by specialist craftsmen.
Associated object
94-1870 (Set)
Bibliographic references
  • Milet, A. Ivoires et ivoiries de Dieppe: étude historique. Paris: E. Moreau et Cie, 1906, p. 9
  • List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington, Acquired During the Year 1870, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., p. 11
  • Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. Part II. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1929 p. 79
  • Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. Part II. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1929, p. 79
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013 pp. 432, 433
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, pp. 432, 433, cat. no. 463
Collection
Accession number
94A-1870

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Record createdDecember 30, 2003
Record URL
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