{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O78416"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O78416/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM2090/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AM2090/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AM2090","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O78416/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O78416","accessionNumber":"M.103-1966","objectType":"Melon fork","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"<b>Dining Etiquette</b><br>Dining etiquette formed an important part of the Victorian code of polite society. <i>The Manners and Tone of Good Society</i>, first published in 1879, outlined the correct conduct of the dinner party but focused on the complicated and changing use of cutlery. With a few exceptions, such as for eating bread and some fruit, it frowned on the idea of touching food with the fingers. Around this time diners were being faced with an alarming and growing range of specialist utensils for eating particular foods. It was important to be able to recognise lobster picks, pastry forks and grape scissors and to know how to use them correctly.<br><br><b>Design & Designing</b><br>The pattern on the handle of the fork is known as Vine and was popular for decorating dessert ware from its introduction in the early 19th century.<br><br><b>Manufacturer</b><br>Francis Higgins & Son rose to great prominence in the silver trade for the quality and ingenuity of their work as specialist spoon and fork makers.","physicalDescription":"","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Higgins, Francis","id":"A3520"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver, with cast decoration","categories":[{"text":"Eating","id":"THES48963"},{"text":"Tableware & cutlery","id":"THES48888"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AM2090"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"125B (VA)","id":"THES49893"},"free":"","case":"CA2","shelf":"","box":"103"}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Knife/fork","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1886","earliest":"1886-01-01","latest":"1886-12-31"},"association":{"text":"designed","id":"x29338"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"20.1","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"2.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions checked: Measured; 14/12/1998 by JC","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"This fork, made in London by Francis Higgins, was purchased by the Museum in 1966, when it was described as a 'pastry fork'. However, late-nineteenth-century sale catalogues of cutlery firms refer to forks of this design as 'melon forks'. Melons were chilled and served in slices, and the design of this fork allowed the diner to both cut and secure the fruit.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Melon Fork, silver, London 1886, made by Francis Higgins.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Allan, David. <u>French Silver Cutlery of the XIX<sup>th</sup> Century</u>. Dijon: Éditions Faton, 2007. ISBN 9782878440966"}],"production":"Design registered in 1886","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nAccording to the etiquette book, 'Manners and Tone of Good Society': 'Pastry is always eaten with a fork alone, but in the case of a fruit tart, a dessert spoon is used as well as a fork but only for the purpose of conveying the fruit and juice to the mouth.'","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["M.103-1966"],"accessionNumberNum":"103","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1966,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LN6311","2019LP7822","2019LR4890","2019LV4940"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-12","recordCreationDate":"2003-03-27","availableToBook":false}}