When Forks Were Fads
Loss than 230 years ago hardly anyone had ever heard of table forks in England. . Ancient Greeks and Romans used forks for various purposes, but the table fork was an unknown thing to them. The first people to think of using a fork instead of fingers at table were the Italians in the sixteenth century. The first man to use one in England was one Thomas Coryate on his return from a trip to Italy' in 1008. AH the “best people” jeered at him for his effeminacy.
Notes traveller Coryate: ‘‘l observed a ciistome in all those Italian cities and townes that is not used in any other country that I saw in my travels. The Italian and also most strangers that are commorant in Italy do alwaies at their meals use a little, forke -when -they cut their meat: This form of feeding, I understand, is generally used in all places of Italy. The reason of this their curiosity is, because the Italian cannot by any meanes indiire to have his dish-douched with fingers, seeing all men's fingers are not alike cleane. ” ’ People in England thought this faddy, ridiculed' the fork as effeminate finery,'and labelled Coryate “Furcifcr. ’ ’
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/MT19361210.2.64
Bibliographic details
Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 292, 10 December 1936, Page 11
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202When Forks Were Fads Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 292, 10 December 1936, Page 11
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