M. FORD CREECH ANTIQUES & FINE ARTS
 

 

PAIR OF GEORGE I HANOVERIAN SILVER 3-TINE DESSERT FORKS

W Over ? (Probably for William Scarlett) London, 1724

 

    

 

 

Of heavy gauge silver, each with three full length tines, the shaft with slight upper ridge and a pip to the upturned terminal,

the terminal verso engraved with the arms of an unknown family impaling Moore (More, Moor, Muir or Mure), contemporaneous with the forks :

 

Arms : (on the dexter) Azure a chevron argent between three pine cones

(…?...) (for …?...);

(on the sinister) Argent a moor’s head couped proper wreathed about the temples

(…?...) between three pierced mullets gules (for  Moore)

 

(marriage of an unidentified gentleman to an unnamed lady of the family of Moore)

 

Condition : Excellent; good weight and tines, the tines with knife marks to the ends; makers marks rubbed

 

 Marks : date mark of I, lion passant and crowned leopard to each one with maker’s mark almost obliterated, the other

with a W above another unknown initial.  The only London maker found at that time with such an arrangement was

William Scarlett, Grimwade #3292, registered 1720.

 

Note :

At the very end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th century, silver dinner forks with three tines were introduced

- the three tines representing the thumb and two first fingers, then proper for transporting solid foods to the mouth. Although forks had existed since biblical times, they were quite slow to catch on in England. 

The earlier British clergy contended that God gave people fingers for eating, and declared forks to be diabolical

(forks sometimes then referred to as "pitchforks", having the same Latin root furca). 

The "sherbet course" was introduced in the early 1700's, not to clear the palette, as commonly thought,

but for the washing of the single fork for the next course.

Queen Anne dognose forks are quite rare and therefore quite expensive - more suitable for the collector than

for table use.  The Hanoverian three-tine fork, while still rare in good condition, is more accessible and quite

 acceptable with dognose spoons, also being used with dognose spoons during the Queen Anne period.

 

6.75” Long / 3.1 oz

 

SOLD

 

#6340

 

Please Inquire 

 

 

 To the upper left, the W can be seen at the top of the punch.  Nothing is beside it.

 

Heraldry Courtesy of John Tunesi of Liongam

Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

 

Also See :

 

 
 

Set of Three George I Silver Hanoverian 3-Tine Table Forks

England, c1720,

Marks Rubbed and Cast Over

Rare Set of Three George II Irish Silver Hanoverian 3-Tine Dessert Forks

Dublin, James Champion, c1740,

(Same Length as Above Forks)

Assembled Pair of George I-II Silver Hanoverian 3-Tine Table Forks

England, c1721-40, marks rubbed,

one by Paul Hanet

 

 

 

Rare Set of 4 Queen Anne Britannia Silver Dognose 3-Tine Forks

 

Click for a related article:

 

 

"EARLY BRITISH TABLE SILVER : A SHORT HISTORY"

(&)

   Early British Table Silver : A Catalog

 


 

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M. Ford Creech Antiques & Fine Arts / 581 South Perkins Road /  Memphis, TN 38117 / USA /  Wed.-Sat. 11-6, or by appointment

 

 


 

 

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Pair of George I Hanoverian Silver Dognose (Wavy-End) Dessert Forks, London, 1724, William Scarlett (probably), arms or unknown family impaling Moore