{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O295366"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O295366/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AJ9409/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AJ9409/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AJ9409","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O295366/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O295366","accessionNumber":"1323E/2-1854","objectType":"Fork","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"In the 17th century, sets of matching cutlery were still a novelty, and highly prized.  The culture of the day demanded that they ‘should not be merely polished and abundant but also rare and distinct.’  It was the sign of a gentleman that he possessed cutlery made of unusual and valuable materials, and many knives, forks and spoons of this period have handles of agate, ivory, or other precious materials.  \r\n\r\nThese sets were at first restricted to a single knife, fork and spoon, which were carried in a fitted case for the personal use of the owner.  It was not until the early 18th century that sets of multiple pieces, provided by the host rather than the guest, began to appear.  This set was originally described as 17th-century Italian when it was acquired by the Museum in 1854, but it is more likely that it was made later, perhaps not long before it was acquired.\r\n","physicalDescription":"Fork with cylindrical tapering handle of cloudy agate with a band of silver-gilt filigree round the base and a filigree rosette on the top.  The shaft and tines are silver-gilt.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver-gilt","id":"x37998"},{"text":"agate","id":"AAT11135"}],"techniques":[{"text":"filigree","id":"x35885"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver-gilt with a handle of cloudy agate and silver-gilt filligree terminals","categories":[{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Tableware & cutlery","id":"THES48888"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AJ9409"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"CB013","id":"THES408634"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Fork","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"germany","id":"x28873"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1800-1850","earliest":"1800-01-01","latest":"1850-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"15","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"includes handle and tines","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"1.2","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"maximum width of agate handle","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Fork with handle of cloudy agate with silver-gilt filigree decoration and shaft and tines of silver-gilt, possibly Germany, 1800-1850.","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["1323E/2-1854"],"accessionNumberNum":"1323","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1854,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-06-06","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}