Somewhat rare, the silver-gilt three-tine fork with a very nice French-forked terminal, the front

 and back with engraved foliate decoration surrounding un-monogrammed ovals to the terminal;

unmarked as was often the case in early sweetmeat cutlery

 Condition: Excellent, with crisp engraving to each side; good tines and good color to gilding

 Note:

 Small spoons, forks and knives were made in the late 17^th century,

sometimes as travelling cutlery that would have fit in a small case. 

Forks had existed since biblical times.  However, 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). 

17thcentury sweetmeat and sucket  forks were an exception,

being for staining and sticky foods that could not be picked up with the fingers. 

The three tines representing the thumb and two first fingers,

then proper for transporting solid foods to the mouth.

4-1/8” Long /  .2 oz.

 SOLD

#5906

Rare Continental Silver-Gilt Sweetmeat Fork, c1700

17th Century Silver Sucket Spoon / Fork, Unascribed

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William & Mary Silver-Gilt Trefid Sweetmeat Fork 

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