Used as a kitchen tool for centuries, the fork was slow to make its way into common usage
as an eating implement.
By the 7th century, the fork was being used among royal courts in the Middle East and by
the 11th century was fairly common among the wealthy merchants in the region.
In the 11th century, forks were brought to Italy by a Byzantine princess upon her marriage
to a future Doge (chief magistrate) of Venice. Because she refused to eat with her hands,
the princess’s table manners were considered decadent and scandalous. The Catholic
church went so far as to sternly admonish her, stating her use of the fork was an affront to
God’s intention to use the fingers. When she died shortly after her wedding, it was
perceived as divine punishment and helped to delay the common usage of forks in Italy for
several more centuries. By the 14th century, forks were occasionally showing up in the
inventories and wills of the nobles and the wealthy.
In 1533, the fork worked its way to France when Italian Catherine de Medici married the future king of France,
Henry II. Again, the fork was slow to be accepted in France as the French thought it to be an affectation of the
Italians. The French found it awkward and even dangerous. When it did begin to entrench itself in the local
culture, it was strictly something for only the very wealthy and upper classes.
In 1608, after his travels in Italy, an Englishman named Thomas Coryate brought the first forks to England.
The English, however, wanted little to do with the fork, considering it to be effeminate.
In America, it is said that in 1630 Governor Winthrop of the Massachusetts Bay Colony possessed the first and
only fork in the Colonies.
Not until 1633, when King Charles I declared, “It is decent to use a fork,” did the use of the fork begin to gain
a foothold of acceptance in England. Even then, it wasn’t until the 18th century that the fork worked its way
down to the lower classes in England.
It was also around this time that the shape of the fork itself took on a change. Up until this time, forks were
flat and normally consisted of two straight tines at the end of a handle. It was known as a “split spoon”. The
curved fork we’re familiar with today, which is much better designed to scoop up food, was developed in the
18th century in Germany. The number of tines grew from two, to three, then to four. The four tined fork didn’t
become de rigeur until the mid-1800’s.
as an eating implement.
By the 7th century, the fork was being used among royal courts in the Middle East and by
the 11th century was fairly common among the wealthy merchants in the region.
In the 11th century, forks were brought to Italy by a Byzantine princess upon her marriage
to a future Doge (chief magistrate) of Venice. Because she refused to eat with her hands,
the princess’s table manners were considered decadent and scandalous. The Catholic
church went so far as to sternly admonish her, stating her use of the fork was an affront to
God’s intention to use the fingers. When she died shortly after her wedding, it was
perceived as divine punishment and helped to delay the common usage of forks in Italy for
several more centuries. By the 14th century, forks were occasionally showing up in the
inventories and wills of the nobles and the wealthy.
In 1533, the fork worked its way to France when Italian Catherine de Medici married the future king of France,
Henry II. Again, the fork was slow to be accepted in France as the French thought it to be an affectation of the
Italians. The French found it awkward and even dangerous. When it did begin to entrench itself in the local
culture, it was strictly something for only the very wealthy and upper classes.
In 1608, after his travels in Italy, an Englishman named Thomas Coryate brought the first forks to England.
The English, however, wanted little to do with the fork, considering it to be effeminate.
In America, it is said that in 1630 Governor Winthrop of the Massachusetts Bay Colony possessed the first and
only fork in the Colonies.
Not until 1633, when King Charles I declared, “It is decent to use a fork,” did the use of the fork begin to gain
a foothold of acceptance in England. Even then, it wasn’t until the 18th century that the fork worked its way
down to the lower classes in England.
It was also around this time that the shape of the fork itself took on a change. Up until this time, forks were
flat and normally consisted of two straight tines at the end of a handle. It was known as a “split spoon”. The
curved fork we’re familiar with today, which is much better designed to scoop up food, was developed in the
18th century in Germany. The number of tines grew from two, to three, then to four. The four tined fork didn’t
become de rigeur until the mid-1800’s.
| Forks - A Brief History |
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