We humans love to show off. Whether it is through our clothes (check out this earlier episode on buttons if you missed it), shoes, cars… We want people to know where we stand - especially if our station is above others.
And what better occasion to demonstrate our good taste, wealth, or both than at the dinner table?
Fork and spoon, Nuremberg, Germany, 1600-1630, The Robert L. Metzenberg Collection, Gift of Eleanor L. Metzenberg, 1985-103-81,-82, Cooper Hewitt Collecion
Check out the extraordinary coral-carved gold dinner set above, which was obviously made to impress.
“This [set] would tell the recipient or the viewer that the owner was a highly sophisticated person of wealth. It would have made a spectacular present or a great personal statement when put on the table or brought out from a carrying case. “ - Sarah D. Coffin on the Cooper Hewitt blog.
This porcelain set is a bit more modest, but still makes an impression.
Fork, France, 1740-1750 (made), Porcelain, decorated with underglaze blue, with steel tines, © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
And the fork in this mid 19th century set from Sheffield looks downright dangerous.
Joseph Rodgers and Sons Ltd., Sheffield, 1847-1848 (made), © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Today, look at how forks signal status or tell stories.
What special forks do you have in your collection? What do they say about you or your family history?
See, capture and share them on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #kramerseye.