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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