{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O103919"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O103919/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BA1349/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006BA1349/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006BA1349","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006BA1348","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2019LY0817","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O103919/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O103919","accessionNumber":"M.22-1961","objectType":"Toasting fork","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This early surviving example of a 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 the fire until it was done. When it was not being used, the fork could be hung up by its 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 (here an ancanthus motif), the owner’s initials or a dedication from a donor.","physicalDescription":"The handle of wood, the mounts of silver with maker's mark Ro crowned.  Slightly tapering handle of circular section.  Trumpet shaped mount on top decorated with four raised mouldings and a foliated border;  a suspension ring is attached to the side above the engraved initials R -.  Toast holder in the form of a double hook hinged to a tapering socket;  the latter has a border of acanthus foliage above a moulding.  The ends of the hook are shaped as eagle's heads.  Wooden handle slightly cracked.","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":["2006BA1349","2006BA1348","2019LY0817"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"003","id":"THES404465"},"free":"","case":"","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":"41.25","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Mark of R o with a wavy line over the o crowned (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":"Engraved with the initials R -","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 - Dr Louis C G Clarke\nAcquisition RF: 61/44","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Silver and wood, no hallmarks, mark of Ro","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"acanthus","id":"AAT164902"},{"text":"eagle","id":"AAT191374"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.22-1961"],"accessionNumberNum":"22","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1961,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-05-20","recordCreationDate":"2004-09-10","availableToBook":true}}