Fork

a well known table instrument. Hay forks and forks used by the cook in turning meat were known from an early date, but table forks are modern. "Fingers were made before forks" is a true proverb. Table forks were unknown to the ancients. Their invention is credited to the Italians, dating from about the time of the discovery of America. Henry VIII, his wives, and their predecessors ate with their fingers. At the end of each course basins and napkins were presented by attendants. Queen Elizabeth was the first English sovereign to become acquainted with the use of the table fork. Even in her reign the fork was a curiosity. We learn that the Countess of Lincoln gave her "a knife and a spoune, and a forke of christall, garnished with golde sleightly, and sparcks of garnets." The Countess of Warwick presented her with "one spoune and forke of golde; the forke garnished with two lyttle rubyes, two lyttle perles pendant, and a lyttle corall."

The following quotation is taken from the observations of an Englishman who traveled in Italy during the reign of James I:

I observed a custom in all those Italian cities and townes through which I passed, that is not used in any other country that I saw in my travels; neither do I think that any other nation of Christendom doth use it, but only Italy. The Italian and also most strangers do always at their meals use a little forke when they cut their meate. For while with their knife, which they hold in one hand, they cut the meate out of the dish, they fasten the forke, which they hold in their other hand, upon the same dish; so that whatsoever he be that sitting in the company of others at meals, should unadvisedly touch the dish of meate with his fingers, from which all the table doe cut, he will give occasion of offence unto the company, as having transgressed the laws of good manners. This form of feeding, I understand, is generally used in all places of Italy; their forks being for the most part made of yron, steele, and some of silver, but these are used only by gentlemen.

For a century or two after the introduction of forks, a gentleman traveler carried his own fork, just as now-a-days he carries his razor or comb. Hotels were unsupplied with forks for general use. The first forks were two-tined. The three-tined forks were considered a great improvement. In this country, as well as abroad, silver for table forks began to take the place of steel about the time of the War of 1812.