Two-tined pointed fork with sloping shoulders. Gilded neck elaborately decorated with leaves, masks and scrollwork. Slightly curved handle of red coral, carved with a grotesque head on the front, above it a torso and head of a man wearing a helmet. Back of handle carved in decorative pattern.

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This object and one other are part of a set whose first object is Fork And Spoon (Germany), 1600–30.

Object Timeline

-0001	We photographed this object.
1985	We acquired this object.
2006	We exhibited this object.
2020	You found it!

Fork (Germany), ca. 1600–1630

This is a fork. It is dated ca. 1600–1630 and we acquired it in 1985. Its medium is coral, gilt silver. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

This object was donated by Eleanor L. Metzenberg. It is credited The Robert L. Metzenberg Collection, gift of Eleanor L. Metzenberg.

Links of pink coral joined with gold rivets; ornamental clasp elaborately decorated with leaves, flowers and fruit carved in coral and mounted on gold stems.

Bracelet (Italy), ca. 1870
coral, gold.
Gift of the estate and in memory of Robert B. Noyes.
1946-50-19

Dessert spoon with handle design of a scorpion on a leaf.

Dessert Spoon with Scorpion Spoon, ca. 1890
silver.
Museum purchase from Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program,....
1996-56-1

Scimitar-shaped blade with rounded end. Octagonal socket of plain brass. Handle of wood carved with female virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity all holding their attributes.

Knife (England), ca. 1700
cut and honed steel, carved wood, cut sheet brass.
The Robert L. Metzenberg Collection, gift of Eleanor L. Metzenberg.
1985-103-49

Our curators have highlighted 8 objects that are related to this one. Here are three of them, selected at random:

Two knives, their points facing downward. The carved handles show grotesque figures. At left, a woman supported by a putto kisses a human head held by a serpent-woman. At right, an oval medallion with a nude below a nude male with a cornucopia.

Print, Design for Two Knife Handles, 1583
engraving on off-white laid paper.
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council.
1921-6-350-1

New stainless steel blade, straight-sided, upper edge curving towards the point; plain bolster. Plain silver ferrule, tapering. Carved ivory handle, a nude woman on one side of the handle, a nude man on the other side. In between them a dolphin and a decorative pattern with flowers, fruit, a human face, curls and a stylized lion opening his mouth.

Knife (possibly Germany), ca. 1700–1800
ivory, silver, stainless steel.
The Robert L. Metzenberg Collection, gift of Eleanor L. Metzenberg.
1985-103-175

Long two-tined fork, rounded shoulder, articulated neck. Silver reeded ferrule. Handle of antler carved as grotesque bearded male face with fur-trimmed head.

Fork, mid–late 18th century
antler, steel, silver.
The Robert L. Metzenberg Collection, gift of Eleanor L. Metzenberg.
1985-103-155-a

Its dimensions are

L x W: 19 x 1.7 cm (7 1/2 x 11/16 in.)

It has the following markings

On shoulder of fork: embellished "N" within oval contour, flattened on top

Cite this object as

Fork (Germany), ca. 1600–1630; Previously owned by Robert L. Metzenberg ; coral, gilt silver; L x W: 19 x 1.7 cm (7 1/2 x 11/16 in.); The Robert L. Metzenberg Collection, gift of Eleanor L. Metzenberg; 1985-103-81

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Feeding Desire: Design and the Tools of the Table, 1500-2005.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2EnTk/
Accession Number 1985-103-81
Object ID 18804373