{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O103918"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O103918/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019LY0817/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2019LY0817/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2019LY0817","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O103918/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O103918","accessionNumber":"M.21-1961","objectType":"Toasting fork","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This early toasting fork was used to toast bread in front of an open fire. The person using it stuck a piece of bread onto the fork tines (prongs) and held the bread in front of the fire until it was done. When not in use, it could be hung up using the suspension ring.\r\n\r\nBy about 1800, some toasting forks had telescopic handles with some three to four slides so the length could be reduced when the fork was not in use. The silver handles were sometimes engraved with decoration, the owner’s initials or a dedication from a donor. This fork is marked FG.","physicalDescription":"Handle of circular section with ferrule at top and centre.  The top ferrule surmounted by a ball with a central moulding;  it carries a suspension ring.  C shaped two pronged fork with a pivoted stirrup shaped toast holde,  The edges of all the mounts are cut to a pattern of acanthus foliage below a moulding.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"},{"text":"wood","id":"AAT11914"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver with a wooden handle","categories":[{"text":"Eating","id":"THES48963"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2019LY0817"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"65","id":"THES49734"},"free":"","case":"25","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Toasting fork","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":"probably"}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1690","earliest":"1685-01-01","latest":"1694-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Louis C.G. Clarke","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"40.75","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Mark of F.G. separated by a pellet with a star below all within a shield (unidentified).","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"No hallmarks","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Bequest - Doctor Louis C.G. Clarke\nAcquisition RF: 61/44","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Silver and wood, no hallmarks, mark of F.G., ca. 1690","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"acanthus","id":"AAT164902"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"2.  TOASTING FORK\r\nUnmarked, around 1690\r\nMark F.G. over a mullet in a shaped shield\r\nIntended for personal use in the study or bedchamber for toasting bread.  The fork has a suspension ring by which it would hang when not in use.\r\nDr. Louis C.G. Clarke Bequest\r\nM.21-1961","date":{"text":"26/11/1996","earliest":"1996-11-26","latest":"1996-11-26"}}],"partNumbers":["M.21-1961"],"accessionNumberNum":"21","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1961,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-08","recordCreationDate":"2004-09-10","availableToBook":false}}