Fork
A fork is a pronged implement for holding or lifting food. Latin furcula means a small fork or fork-shaped object, not necessarily a modern table fork. Ancient finds require a distinction between eating utensils, kitchen forks and tools serving other purposes.
Roman copper-alloy fork. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 47.107.1; first–fourth century CE. 12.1 × 2.1 × 0.9 cm.
Bronze fork. Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, 54.1447; first century BCE–fourth century CE according to the museum catalogue. Length: 14.9 cm.
Roman silver fork-and-spoon implement. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 2006.514.3; third century CE. Length: 16.2 cm.Pronged utensils occur in Roman folding sets. The third-century CE silver example in the Fitzwilliam Museum (GR.1.1991) combines a fork, spoon and additional implements; the iron blade is less well preserved. The museum identifies it as a luxury object. It demonstrates sophisticated craftsmanship, not standard issue of a multitool to legionaries.
Roman folding utensil of silver with an iron blade. Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, GR.1.1991; third century CE. A luxury object, not an established legionary issue set.
Roman folding utensil of silver with an iron blade. Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, GR.1.1991; third century CE. A luxury object, not an established legionary issue set.
Roman folding utensil of silver with an iron blade. Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge, GR.1.1991; third century CE. A luxury object, not an established legionary issue set.Place among Tableware
At Roman banquets diners handled food with their fingers and used spoons. Individual forks do not establish dining habits identical to those of a modern European table. Size, prong shape, hinges and associated components help identify their use.
Folding Sets
A folding mechanism reduced an implement’s size for transport. A reconstruction should reproduce the hinge as well as the outline. The uses of individual spikes and spatulas sometimes remain uncertain; labels such as toothpick or a tool for a particular food require supporting evidence.
Related topics
Ancient military campaigns,Spoon,Culter
Literature and sources
1. H. Cool. Eating and Drinking in Roman Britain. 2. A. Croom. Roman Furniture and Household Objects. 3. J. P. Oleson. The Oxford Handbook of Engineering and Technology in the Classical World. - Fitzwilliam Museum: folding implement GR.1.1991. - Metropolitan Museum: The Roman Banquet.
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