{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O296934"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O296934/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JB4389/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2016JB4389/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2016JB4389","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2016JB4390","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O296934/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O296934","accessionNumber":"M.40A-1960","objectType":"Fork","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Although made in London, this mid-eighteenth century fork is French in style. The form of the finial, referred to as a 'fiddle pattern' and the marked drop at the back of the fork where the stem meets the tines are characteristic of French flatware and are unusual in England in the 1740s. The maker's mark is very similar to that of John Boyer, a London goldsmith who produced small objects (a 'smallworker'), but the first record of his mark in the London goldsmiths' registers dates from April 1772 and in 1773 he is described as a buttonworker. When the fork was presented to the V&A it was thought possibly to be from the workshop of 'J. Barbitt'. 'Barbitt' has now been correctly identified as Joseph Barbut, recorded as a goldsmith of large objects (a 'largeworker') in October 1703, and still active in 1739. Barbut's mark does not resemble the one on this fork, but on the other hand his surviving pieces suggest he was a specialist spoon and forkmaker, and he would have been active when this fork was made.  ","physicalDescription":"Silver, fiddle pattern, four-prong fork with a reeded rim.","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[{"text":"forging","id":"AAT54033"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"","categories":[],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2016JB4389","2016JB4390"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"009","id":"THES408924"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Fork","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"marked","id":"x32454"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1740-41","earliest":"1740-01-01","latest":"1741-12-31"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"M.40-1960","id":"O271862"},"association":""}],"creditLine":"Given by H. Vanderpump","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"18.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"03/03/2016","earliest":"2016-03-03","latest":"2016-03-03"},"part":"Tip of tines to end of handle","note":""},{"dimension":"Weight","value":"61.6","unit":"g","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"03/03/2016","earliest":"2016-03-03","latest":"2016-03-03"},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"On the stem of the fork, L to R:\r\nLion passant, the mark of Sterling silver; initials 'JB', possibly maker's mark of John Barbe; leopard's head crown (mark very worn), mark of London assay office; traces of London assay office date letter.","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 on the back of the finial, the initial 'M' surmounted by a ducal coronet.","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":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Silver fork, English (London), 1740-41, maker's mark 'JB', possibly that of John Barbe.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Grimwade, Arthur G.. <u>London Goldsmiths 1697-1837. Their Marks and Lives</u>. 1st edn. London: Faber and Faber, 1976."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Snodin, Michael. <u>English Silver Spoons</u>. London: Charles Letts, 1974. ISBN 850971101"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Pickford, Ian. <u>Silver Flatware. English, Irish and Scottish 1660-1980</u>. Woodbridge, Suffolk: Antique Collectors' Club, 1983. ISBN 0907462359"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["M.40A-1960"],"accessionNumberNum":"40","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1960,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-12-04","recordCreationDate":"2009-06-24","availableToBook":true}}