Each dognosed (wavy-end) fork with three full-length tines and a flat tapering shaft,

the terminal scratch engraved en suite in a contemporary L F

Condition : Excellent, the tines without reduction and with minor side tine wear;

the tine versos each with knife marks appropriate to usage; good patination

Marks : Benjamin Watts (3), Grimwade #2984;

date marks rubbed on two, maker’s marks clear

Thomas Sadler : (1) Grimwade #2466;

all marks clear with only light rubbing to the lion’s head erased

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.

7" Long / 5.7 oz.

 SOLD

#6339

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Rare Set of 4 Queen Anne Britannia Silver Dognose 3-Tine Forks, Benjamin Watts (3), 1703; Thomas Sadler (1), 1703, Each scratch engraved en suite L F