Dessert Fork
1854-1866 (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 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 œ22 a set in 1885 for richly engraved blades with carved handles and accompanying matching knives.
Manufacturer
A.B. Savory was largely a retailing business, selling the usual stock of silver and electroplated tableware and cutlery, clocks, watches and jewellery.
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 œ22 a set in 1885 for richly engraved blades with carved handles and accompanying matching knives.
Manufacturer
A.B. Savory was largely a retailing business, selling the usual stock of silver and electroplated tableware and cutlery, clocks, watches and jewellery.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Close-plated, silver ferrule, with mother-of-pearl handle |
| Brief description | Dessert Fork, one of a boxed set of twelve dessert knives and forks, by A.B. Savory and Sons, London, 1854-66 |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Marked on the handle PS, G, a symbol of a downpointing triangle with a cross above ( twice ) and ABS all in individual shaped lozanges. (On the mother-of-pearl handle a crest of a fist holding a sheaf of papers?; On the front of the close-plated part of the handle.; punching) |
| Gallery label |
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| Credit line | Bequeathed by Miss D. B. Simpson |
| Object history | Sold through A. B. Savory and Sons, London "Bequest of Miss D.B. Simpson From a set of 6. Cutlery for dessert was sold as a separate service. It was often more decorative, costly and of a different pattern to the cutlery of the earlier courses. The principal table service might be in silver but the dessert cutlery was mostly gilt. This differentiation began in the eighteenth century and continued through until the early twentieth century. Elkington and Co sold dessert cutlery in pairs per dozen for up to £20 with pearl handles and engraved blades." |
| 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. Manufacturer A.B. Savory was largely a retailing business, selling the usual stock of silver and electroplated tableware and cutlery, clocks, watches and jewellery. |
| 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 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 œ22 a set in 1885 for richly engraved blades with carved handles and accompanying matching knives. Manufacturer A.B. Savory was largely a retailing business, selling the usual stock of silver and electroplated tableware and cutlery, clocks, watches and jewellery. |
| Bibliographic reference | John Culme, The Directory of Gold and Silversmiths, Jewellers and Allied Traders 1838-1914, Vol. 1, Woodbridge, Antique Collectors' Club, 1987, pp.405-6 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.207:14-1977 |
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| Record created | July 31, 2003 |
| Record URL |
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