[From a Correspondent.]
The interesting extract in your Magazine of the 26th May, on forks,
induces me to send you a few scraps on the history of forks.
The word fork occurs only once or twice in the Bible; once in the
Pentateuch, where mention is made of “flesh forks,” evidently invented
to take the meat out of the pot; the other instance is in an account of
the riches of Solomon’s temple, where, singularly enough, the Vulgate
has the word _furca_, which the English translation renders by spoon.
Athenæus mentions also the word fork; but it does not appear whether it
was a _bident_ (with two prongs), or a _trident_ (with three prongs),
and it is quite certain that the Greeks were ignorant of the use of
forks in eating. At that time even Lucullus was not acquainted with that
luxury; a two-branched instrument or two were found at Herculaneum, but
it seems clear that they were not used at table in any period of the
Roman history. The first instance that history records of the use of
forks was at the table of John the good Duke of Burgundy, and he had
only two.
At that period the loaves were made round; they were cut in slices which
were piled by the side of the carver, or _Ecuyer Tranchant_ (Cutting
Squire). He had a pointed carving-knife, and a skewer of drawn silver or
gold, which he stuck into the joint; having cut off a slice, he took it
on the point of the knife, and placed it on a slice of bread, which was
served to the guest. This ancient custom of serving the meat on the
point of the carver is still general throughout the continent of Europe.
A leg or a haunch of mutton had always a piece of paper wrapped round
the shank, which the carver took hold of with the left hand when he
carved the joint, and such is still the custom in Lower Germany and
Italy. We, who always imitate, and often without knowing why, have
imported the custom of ornamenting the shank, but the _penetration_ of
the fork is a decided improvement. Pointed knives are still general on
the Continent, it being so difficult to leave off old customs, even
after the occasion that gave them birth has ceased. It is only since the
peace, when every thing English became fashionable, that round-topped
knives have been adopted at Paris.
Before the revolution in France it was customary, when a gentleman was
invited to dinner, for him to send his servant with his knife, fork, and
spoon; or if he had no servant, he carried them with him in his
breeches-pocket, as a carpenter carries his rule. A few of the ancient
regime still follow the good old custom, because it is old. The
peasantry of the Tyrol, and of parts of Germany and Switzerland,
generally carry a case in their pockets, containing a knife and fork,
and a spoon.
Few use a fork so gracefully as an English lady. The Germans grasp it
with a clenched fist.
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