HISTORY OF FORKS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29467, 20 March 1961, Page 2

HISTORY OF FORKS

Replacing Use Of Fingers [By JENNIE SMALL OWEN in the "Christian Science Monitor."] “Fingers were made before forks,” but even so, eating a meal before the introduction of forks was a messy procedure. Lackeys walked round the table with ewers of hot water, or scented water, poured it over diners’ hands and dried them with napkins. It was a common practice for two persons to eat off the same plate. Although forks were known in ancient times, they were not in common use even in the Middle Ages Royalty and aristocracy, however, sometimes flaunted them as a luxury. The daughter of Constantine Ducas, Emperor of the East, who married the Doge Domenico Silvio, is said to have used forks at the close of the eleventh century; and they are frequently mentioned in manuscripts from the thirteenth century on. Then, however, they were apparently meant for dessert rather than meat. Forks in the inventory of Charles V of France (1379 A.D.), were of gold with the handles set with gems, and were used for eating fruits only. Apparently they were not used for meat-eating until the sixteenth century, and then it was still the custom for the guest to bring his own. For this purpose, folding forks with hinged handles were manufactured and were carried in a case in the pocket. Ancient fruit forks had only two prongs, and fourpronged forks were not commonly used before the reign of George 111. It is believed that steel knives and forks with bone, ivory, or silver handles were used in the colonies in the eighteenth century. An old two-tined table fork has been found in Kansas. Barely six inches long it has a wooden handle and steel tines. One of these is bent and blunted as though it has been used for pulling carpet tacks. The tines and handle are held together by a copper rivet. But original forks were nothing more than twopronged skewers, and were used for serving only. Perhaps forks came into common usage when some flnnicky person objected to soiling his fingers, and had a serving fork made smaller for his own use.