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.
2021	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

Four tine fork with faceted shank. Handle formed as a fully modelled, carved ivory bearded man leaning to his right, clutching a drinking cup close to his side with his right hand and his belly with his left hand, a flask hung over his shoulder. He stands on a coiled serpent.

"Tipsy Tavener" Fork, late 18th–mid-19th century
ivory, later silver-plated metal tines.
Gift of the Estate of David Wolfe Bishop.
1951-84-15

Costume design in red and orange for a red knight. Figure looks to the right with its arm raised. Figure wears a helmet in the shape of a horse’s head with yellow horse hair tassels streaming down it, a tunic in red with yellow horse hair tassels hanging from the sleeve, and red and orange tights.

Drawing, Costume Design: Red Knight, for "Checkmate", ca. 1947
brush and gouache, graphite on white paper.
Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
1963-39-278

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