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 SMP Silver Salon Forums
 American Sterling Silver
 A Peculiar Little Fork
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| Author | Topic: A Peculiar Little Fork |
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mdhavey Posts: 164 |
posted 02-04-2009 10:34 AM
  
Here's a pretty little fork from Weidlich, Ancestry pattern, 1940. I picked it up because I have no idea what it's used for. It's 6-3/4" in length and the prongs are just 2" wide. Is it an individual asparagus fork? It's too small to be a bacon or lettuce fork, though of similar design. And 1940 would not strike me as a good year for silver companies to make lots of extraneous "dining as an art" pieces... IP: Logged |
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doc Posts: 728 |
posted 02-04-2009 10:39 AM
It's a sardine fork. IP: Logged |
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mdhavey Posts: 164 |
posted 02-04-2009 10:53 AM
Hi Doc: I think of sardines as a minced accompaniment to salads and such. Didn't know people ate them individually, that is whole. IP: Logged |
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wev Moderator Posts: 4121 |
posted 02-04-2009 11:43 AM
all the time, but I use my fingers. . . IP: Logged |
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mdhavey Posts: 164 |
posted 02-04-2009 01:16 PM
In doing some research on this, I'm surprised to discover that sardines, at one time in the Victorian era, were quite rare and considered an expensive delicacy. Hence this implement. Also known as a Pilchard Fork, by the way, which gives it a certain upscale cachet. Although by 1940, when this pattern was made, I suspect sardines were mainly consumed by hobos (and Wev). Amazing what you learn on this forum... IP: Logged |
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doc Posts: 728 |
posted 02-04-2009 01:57 PM
Having grown up in the sardine capital of the world (Maine), I have learned a thing or two about the slippery little things. The peak period of sardine production in Maine was actually the years between 1940-1950, in large part due to the war. So the date of your piece would make sense with the timing of larger consumption of sardines. I personally like mine packed in mustard. IP: Logged |
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chase33 Posts: 362 |
posted 02-04-2009 10:08 PM
Actually this is a bacon fork in this pattern. The sardine fork in this pattern has 4 prongs and a different shape. In my pattern (Chantilly), the sardine fork is shaped very similar to yours but smaller like 5 1/4". I think alot of people use the generic terms bacon fork or sardine fork interchangeably when it comes to pieces shaped like yours (unless the manufacturer did have two seperate pieces). And yes sardines were so highly prized that many dinnerware manufacturers made special sardine boxes just to serve the sardines. Robert IP: Logged |
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FWG Posts: 845 |
posted 02-05-2009 03:43 PM
I think the longer handle is a semi-reliable distinguisher between bacon fork and sardine fork. I'm not claiming any expert or inside knowledge here, it's just a sense I get from patterns of usage. Best sardines I've ever had were on the north coast of Spain. They pull 'em straight of the boats and fry them in olive oil in huge pans right on the docks. Simply perfect! IP: Logged |
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doc Posts: 728 |
posted 02-05-2009 03:52 PM
I have heard refence to bacon forks, but had not seen one so I have assumed that all of these forks were sardine forks. Thank you for the education. IP: Logged |
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mdhavey Posts: 164 |
posted 02-08-2009 10:23 PM
I've done some field work. It doesn't work very well as a bacon fork. The prongs are too narrow and the bacon tends to fall off and bacon is pretty hard to spear effectively. We experimented this morning at Sunday brunch. It does, however, function fine with sardines (from the can not off the boat), because you can easily spear them. Tried that on Saturday, then put the sardines on a pizza. Not bad. mdh IP: Logged |
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