Fork Fragment from the wreck of the VOC-Ship Hollandia, approx 1700-1743, Rijksmuseum Collection, Amsterdam
This week we’re looking at a utensil, you probably use everyday, but that isn’t as old as you might think.
Knives have been used since prehistoric times, but the use of forks for eating in Europe commenced in the fourteenth century, and they become commonly used in the sixteenth century. At first, using a fork was viewed in the rest of Europe as an unmanly Italian affectation.[
The Middle East, of course, was way ahead of us - they were using forks for eating as early as the 4th century in the Byzantine Empire.
The fork solves a very important problem: getting food into you mouth without making a complete fool of yourself.
But it’s also a way for designers to show off their skills on something you use every day. Something you not only hold, but also put in your mouth. Which makes it a pretty intimate tool.
Design for a spoon and fork, Mathieu Lauweriks, 1874 - 1932, Rijksmuseum Collection, Amsterdam
Today, observe all the forks in your life.
What material are they made of? How many tines do they have?
Do you like them? Why? Why not?
See them, capture them and share them on Twitter or Instagram using the hashtag #kramerseye. And don’t forget to enjoy your meal!