{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O83534"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O83534/"}},"images":null,"see_also":null},"record":{"systemNumber":"O83534","accessionNumber":"M.183:6-1977","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>\r\n\r\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>\r\n\r\n<b>Design & Designing</b><br>\r\nFrom the 1840s mass-produced cutlery, machine-made in Sheffield, expanded the choice of quality and pattern for consumers. This fork was made in the popular Fiddle, thread and shell pattern, but the Sheffield manufacturers James Dixon & Sons offered 28 different designs for cutlery sets in their catalogue of 1892.","physicalDescription":"Fork, silver, with fiddle, thread and shell pattern","artistMakerPerson":[],"artistMakerOrganisations":[{"name":{"text":"Hayne and Co","id":"A9980"},"association":{"text":"maker","id":"AAT251917"},"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":"012","id":"THES408838"},"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":"1836-1837","earliest":"1836-05-29","latest":"1837-05-28"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Miss D.B. Simpson","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"26","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Length","value":"240","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"27","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Marked on the back of the handle with a London hallmark, duty mark, sterling mark, date letter for for 1836-7, maker's mark for Samuel Hayne and Dudley Cater, comprising four copperplate letters of 'SH' above 'DC'.\r\n\r\nCrest of a boar's head.","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"Punching","position":"Hall marks and maker's mark on back of handle. Boar's head on front of handle.","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"Hall marks and maker's mark on back of handle. Boar's head on front of handle.; Punching"}],"objectHistory":"","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><br>\r\n\r\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>\r\n\r\n<b>Design & Designing</b><br>\r\nFrom the 1840s mass-produced cutlery, machine-made in Sheffield, expanded the choice of quality and pattern for consumers. This fork was made in the popular Fiddle, thread and shell pattern, but the Sheffield manufacturers James Dixon & Sons offered 28 different designs for cutlery sets in their catalogue of 1892.","briefDescription":"Table fork, silver, one of a set of twenty six pieces, including twelve table forks, six dessert forks and eight dessert spoons, Fiddle, thread and shell pattern, all made by Hayne and Co, 1836-37 except six table forks by William Eaton 1831-32","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Arthur G Grimwade, 'London Goldsmiths 1697-1837, Faber and Faber, London, 1990 ed.p. 182-3, mark ref. 2546"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"John Culme, The Directory of Gold and Silversmiths, Jewellers and Allied Traders 1838-1914, 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, silver, one of a set of 26 pieces, including 12 table forks, 6 dessert forks and 8 dessert spoons.  Fiddle, thread and shell pattern, made by William Eaton, 1831-2.\r\nMiss D. B. Simpson Bequest\r\nM.183:6-1977","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null}}],"partNumbers":["M.183:6-1977"],"accessionNumberNum":"183","accessionNumberPrefix":"M","accessionYear":1977,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-06-09","recordCreationDate":"2003-08-20","availableToBook":true}}