{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O82590"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O82590/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O82590","accessionNumber":"M.181A-1977","objectType":"Table fork","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"Large table forks evolved in the early 18th century as cutlery became specialised. A desire to eat more elegantly prompted the need for table equipment that could be used only at particular points in the meal or with certain foods. Table forks formed part of a matching cutlery set.<br><br><b>The Victorian Dining Table</b><br>\r\nFrom the 1860s Victorian society embraced the new method of serving dinner known as <i>à la Russe</i>, which fundamentally changed the look of the dining table. Previously foods had been set out in silver and ceramic dishes and diners helped themselves, but with dinner <i> à la Russe</i> each course was served individually to guests by servants. The silver entrée dishes and ceramic tureens gave way to lavish floral displays in glass vases and ceramic fruit stands. The cover or place setting assumed a greater importance and occupied a larger area of the dining table. Mrs Beeton's <i>Book of Household Management</i> advised in 1888: 'We now come to the knives and forks ... it is usual to lay two large of each, flanked to the right by a fish knife and a soup spoon, and on the left by the fish fork; other knives and forks are supplied with the plates for the different courses.'<br><br>","physicalDescription":"Fork, silver, fiddle, thread and shell pattern","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Hayne and Co","id":"A9980"},"association":{"text":"manufacturer","id":"x33306"},"note":""}],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"silver","id":"AAT11029"}],"techniques":[{"text":"die stamping","id":"AAT53224"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Silver, die stamped","categories":[{"text":"Eating","id":"THES48963"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Silver","id":"THES251836"},{"text":"Tableware & cutlery","id":"THES48888"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":[],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"013","id":"THES408840"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Table fork","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"London","id":"x28980"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"1845-1846","earliest":"1845-05-29","latest":"1846-05-28"},"association":{"text":"hallmarked","id":"x32454"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"M.181-1977","id":"O82451"},"association":"Set"}],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Miss D.B. Simpson","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Length","value":"260","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"28","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Marked on the back of the handle with London hallmark, duty, sterling, date letter for 1845-6, ","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"punching","position":"On the back of the handle","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""},{"content":"Mark of Hayne and Co.","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":"Bequeathed by Miss D. B. Simpson","historicalContext":"Large table forks evolved in the early 18th century as cutlery became specialised. A desire to eat more elegantly prompted the need for table equipment that could be used only at particular points in the meal or with certain foods. Table forks formed part of a matching cutlery set.<br>\n<b>The Victorian Dining Table</b><br>\r\nFrom the 1860s Victorian society embraced the new method of serving dinner known as <i>à la Russe</i>, which fundamentally changed the look of the dining table. Previously foods had been set out in silver and ceramic dishes and diners helped themselves, but with dinner <i> à la Russe</i> each course was served individually to guests by servants. The silver entrée dishes and ceramic tureens gave way to lavish floral displays in glass vases and ceramic fruit stands. The cover or place setting assumed a greater importance and occupied a larger area of the dining table. Mrs Beeton's <i>Book of Household Management</i> advised in 1888: 'We now come to the knives and forks ... it is usual to lay two large of each, flanked to the right by a fish knife and a soup spoon, and on the left by the fish fork; other knives and forks are supplied with the plates for the different courses.'<br><br>","briefDescription":"Table fork, silver, London hallmarks for 1845-6, made by Hayne and Co, London.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"John Culme, <u>The Directory of Gold and Silversmiths, Jewellers and Allied Traders 1838-1914</u>, Vol. 1, Woodbridge, Antique Collectors' Club, 1987 pp. 223-4"}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"Mass produced","id":"THES48863"},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Table fork, one of a set of twelve table and dessert forks, Fiddle, thread and shell pattern, made by Hayne and Co., London, 1845-1846.\r\nMiss D. B. Simpson Bequest\r\nM.181A-1977","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["M.181A-1977"],"accessionNumberNum":"181","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1977,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-06-09","recordCreationDate":"2003-07-23","availableToBook":true}}