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Author	Topic: oyster fork
silverhunter Posts: 704 Registered: Jul 2007	posted 07-04-2008 07:49 AM Since a long time I keep the rest of a oyster fork which I've found(very cheap!) in the mud of a ditch around a old castle in the neighborhood. What interest me is the shape/pattern of the oyster fork. In the handle you put the thumb from the upside, the stele is triangle shape (I think for to give the fork more strength to break up the oyster. It's a gamble but I think it has a four tands, two are missing. This rest of the oyster fork was found between pieces of wine bottles(dated 17th century) and some oysters to. So for time indication I hope it's 17 th century. Is there a member who can inform me about the pattern/shapes used in that period and will confirm that the triangle shape of stele is used in that period? I have used the search function of the forum, only found one subject about it. If it's necessary I can make a drawing of the rest of the oyster fork for give a totally image of the shape/pattern. I think it's made of iron and it was protected for a totally destroy by natural elements, under the mud. IP: Logged
Kimo Posts: 1627 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 07-05-2008 02:13 PM Hi Silverhunter. You really do need to post some photos so we can see what you have. It is very hard to say much without photos. I am a little confused with what you are trying to say. The points on a fork are called 'tines'. Do you mean to say tine when you write 'tand'? Also, when you write 'stele' do you mean to say 'handle'? Or if the fork originally had some kind of wooden or ceramic or metal handle around it that would be called a 'tang'. Anyway, I am not positive, but I believe that most very old forks in Europe had only two or sometimes three tines, and that it was not until the middle of the 18th century that some of them started being made with 4 tines. If yours has 4 tines then it may not be any older than 18th century. The triangular shape of the handle or tang (whichever it is) could be for strength, or it could be that it is a tang that would have had a handle of wood or something around it and the triangular shape would have been to keep it from rotating in the handle as it was used. [This message has been edited by Kimo (edited 07-07-2008).] IP: Logged
Paul Lemieux Posts: 1792 Registered: Apr 2000	posted 07-05-2008 02:33 PM I thought oyster forks were more of an 18C innovation. Can you post photographs, as well as dimensions? IP: Logged
silverhunter Posts: 704 Registered: Jul 2007	posted 07-05-2008 05:28 PM Thanks for your reactions Kimo and Paul, short reaction from this side tomorrow I will spend more attention to send one or a few photo's of the rest of the fork, don't aspect to much because I already wrote about "a piece of fork", which survived the time. It's only iron made and perhaps some silver rest on it? Hardly to see, also no marks but tomorrow I give more information and dimension with it. It also can be a 18th century period because the ground(mud) in which I found it, can be disturbed by time! But the pieces of the wine bottles indicate 17th century. At the island were standing two castles in different periods. I try to write my best grammatical English from this side but I learn more and more about using correct worths and for use them well, trying to give good information. So I will give it a try tomorrow! Greetings silverhunter(andre). IP: Logged
silverhunter Posts: 704 Registered: Jul 2007	posted 07-06-2008 06:34 AM Like I promised here are the results after yesterday. The measures of the oyster fork are: Totally length 6.2 inches Tines length plm. 2 cm. Triangle shape of the handle plm. 5 cm and handle itself measures 6,5 cm. It weight only 10 gram. I hope the drawing and two pictures give a clear impression of this 18th century (part) of a oyster fork. Is there anybody who will send a photo from a oyster fork (in better condition of course) because I'm interested in the kind of patterns/shapes they were produced in that period or later. IP: Logged
silverhunter Posts: 704 Registered: Jul 2007	posted 07-08-2008 05:16 AM After all that energy I've put into this topic it's a pitty that there isn't a reaction until now (from my own side, of course. With Christmas I also send me a Xmas card than I know that I certain get some post. This topic is for to learn about different patterns of oyster forks or indication of periods. To be honest I never had and will eat a oyster! IP: Logged
agphile Posts: 798 Registered: Apr 2008	posted 07-08-2008 03:39 PM I’m sorry your efforts have not been rewarded by instant comment and information. In my case it is because I don’t have much of use to volunteer. Oysters have always been a popular dish. The Romans used to import them from England and would have used the type of spoon called a cochlear to eat them (see the thread on Roman Spoons in Continental/International Silver). That is, unless they slurped them straight from the shell which is the only way I have tried them – and I cannot say I was enthused to keep on trying. I don’t know when oyster forks first appeared. English silver examples from the late 18th/19th century have a knife blade at the opposite end of the stem to the tines but I do not have an example that I can illustrate. And that is as much as I can offer. IP: Logged
Marc Posts: 414 Registered: Jun 2002	posted 07-08-2008 05:58 PM Hi there Silverhunter, Here is a photo of a pair of seafood / cocktail forks. More may be viewed at the unmentionable auction site. Sorry that not more folks are responding.. Over here it is the 4th of July, vacation time, when we celebrate the signing of the "Declaration of Independence", and catch up on our sleep. Hope this helps a bit. Marc IP: Logged
jersey Posts: 1203 Registered: Feb 2005	posted 07-08-2008 06:15 PM Hello Andre! We more often call them Shrimp cocktail forks, and they are made with all kinds of metals. Enjoy! Jersey IP: Logged
silverhunter Posts: 704 Registered: Jul 2007	posted 07-08-2008 07:03 PM Agphile, Marc, Jersey thanks a lot for your reactions, nice to know! I will look at auction websites that also will help to get information. I didn't knew that the roman started with eating oysters and used a special spoon for it. Good to know all the facts. For all of you have a nice vacation. The weather is terrible in Holland, autumn is started earlier this year. Have a good time! IP: Logged
Kimo Posts: 1627 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 07-09-2008 02:03 PM Patience is essential when asking people who volunteer their time in places such as this forum. Many people here only stop by once every few weeks and it can take time for them to see a question and share their knowledge. Many others see a thread such as yours and give it long thought and may even do a little research in their own files but if they do not come up with an answer they will not add to the the thread just to say they do not know. I find life is always better when I think the best of people and not assume the worst, at least not until they give me a good reason. I also find that patience and positive thoughts are more often rewarded with people making better efforts in future questions. By being quick to let out frustration in a response, some people here might decide to be less willing to help on other questions where they have some good answers to share. In looking at your fork, my first thought is that it does not appear to have had any wood or metal or ceramic added to make the handle - it appears to have been made as it is now, except for the two missing tines. My thought is also stronger now that it looks more like an 18th or 19th century fork and not a 17th century one. [This message has been edited by Kimo (edited 07-10-2008).] IP: Logged
silverhunter Posts: 704 Registered: Jul 2007	posted 07-09-2008 04:02 PM Thanks Kimo for your reaction, I was again impatient that's for sure. Earlier it was the same reaction and sometimes members never will get a answer about their question/s, so I'm happy with these! Ofcourse the fork is to much destroyed and the shape/pattern isn't to recognize for 100%. But the given facts tell me more about the object itself. I'm helped with that. IP: Logged
Kimo Posts: 1627 Registered: Mar 2003	posted 07-10-2008 05:49 PM Collecting silver and silver plated things is fun. When I find myself not having fun I take a short vacation of a few hours or days or weeks and come back to it. Another interesting aspect of silver and silver plate is that while there is a great amount of knowledge, there is also much that is not known and can be discovered by personal research. Also, there is much that has been lost to time and never will be known. IP: Logged
silverhunter Posts: 704 Registered: Jul 2007	posted 07-11-2008 04:11 AM I think I know what you mean(or?), for instance here in Holland sometimes a archaeological area is discovered by a amateur archaeologist. The professionals take it over and because there isn't time and money enough for it to investigate, the area will be covered up with sand. The area is protected (?) for a later investigation by third generation archaeologists. When information about this area disappear the place will be forgotten and the area is covered up with sand and also the knowledge. IP: Logged
silverhunter Posts: 704 Registered: Jul 2007	posted 07-11-2008 04:28 AM Short reaction from my side, considering the other reactions at this topic. I doubt if I used the therm oyster fork well. Agphile is wright about people slurp oysters and perhaps the oyster/s are opened by special knives? The shrimp fork (Jersey's) reaction will be the same as the fork showed by Marc.That's what I've understood. IP: Logged

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