Imagine, forks suddenly disappeared from the kitchen. You'll have to chase the same pasta around the plate with a spoon. Well, very inconvenient! But our distant ancestors did not even think of using forks when eating. In this story I will tell you about the history of the fork.
Even 300 years ago, the rules of good manners prescribed not to take meat with all your fingers, especially with two hands, but only with three fingers. And do not wipe them on your clothes, but rinse them in a special bowl of water. At one time, in wealthy European homes, it was fashionable to eat with gloves to keep your hands clean.
Nowadays, the fork is the most popular kitchen utensil. It is believed that history of the fork started in 1072 year in Byzantium in the imperial palace. It was made in one copy from gold, had two teeth and a short handle decorated with mother-of-pearl. This fork was intended for the Byzantine princess, who considered it humiliating to eat with her hands.
Fork spread very slowly throughout the world. Initially, it denoted the difference between royal persons and others, and not at all with cutlery. It was considered more convenient to eat with your hands or a spoon. The queens each had one fork and carried them in special cases. The fork became widespread only by the 16th century: the sharp awl used to prick food and eat it was replaced by a fork with two teeth.
The fork was brought to Russia from Poland in 1606 year prince False Dmitry I and was demonstratively used during the feast on the occasion of his marriage. This shocked the Russian boyars. The fork almost became a reason for popular uprising against False Dmitry. The argument was simple: since the Tsar and Tsarina eat not with their hands, but with some kind of spear, it means that they are not Russians or monarchs, but the offspring of the devil. At that time, the church was very opposed to the use of forks, considering it an unnecessary luxury, godlessness and a connection with dark forces.
Traditionally, misfortune has been associated with a fork - dropping a fork was considered a harbinger of bad luck, a bad omen. They spoke disapprovingly of the fork, as evidenced by the proverb: “A spoon is like a net, but a fork is like a fish,” that is, you cannot scoop up anything.
Peter I played a big role in the spread of forks in Rus'. The royal table was always served with a wooden spoon, “seasoned with ivory,” a knife and fork with green bone handles. The orderly on duty was obliged to carry them with him and place them in front of the king, even if he happened to dine at a party. Apparently, Peter was not sure that even in the “best houses” he would be given the entire set of cutlery.
Massive in Europe production of forks began in 1860 made of silver and then stainless steel. And the fork became similar to the one you use every day.
A fork is a tableware that consists of a handle (handle) and several narrow tines.
Nowadays it is very difficult to imagine any meal without a fork. Previously, the main tableware for food consumption was a spoon and a knife. If it was necessary to chop food, they used two knives: with one knife they cut, and with the other knife they put the food into the mouth. For a long time, most of the food during meals was simply eaten with hands. In the 16th and 17th centuries, good manners required taking meat from a plate with three fingers and then rinsing them in a special bowl of water. For a time, in wealthy European homes, people ate with gloves, and then the gloves were thrown away after the meal. It is noteworthy that the concept of a fork already existed by that time! However, as a rule, they were used only in the kitchen to cut, hold, serve, and lay out food.
As a rule, such forks had only 2 prongs. The connection between the meaning of the word “fork” and its cognate word “fork” (Latin “fulka”) is also not accidental. They are similar in form and purpose.
The fork is believed to have been invented in the Middle East in the 9th century.
But there are facts that the fork as a serving tableware was known back in Ancient Greece and Rome. At first it had one, and after a while 2 large straight teeth and a long handle.
One of the Italian museums houses a fork found in one of the graves of the ancient Italian city of Paestum. She is more than two and a half thousand years old.
The first mention of forks, which began to be used at the table, dates back to the 11th century AD. It is believed that its creator is the Byzantine princess Maria Iverskaya, who considered it humiliating to eat food with her hands. A single fork was made for her personally from gold and silver. Her hand shone with mother-of-pearl on ivory. It was this Byzantine princess who introduced the two-pronged fork to Venice, but initially the Italians treated it as an attribute of some kind of effeminacy and affectation.
In 1360, during the reign of Charles V, forks appeared in France, but their use was not yet so widespread. The fork, oddly enough, was considered until the beginning of the 17th century to be a luxury item, a whim of rich, spoiled people in many European countries, and the Catholic Church called those who used the fork atheists. The expression “The Devil’s Fork” apparently has its roots precisely in the Christian faith’s rejection of Ancient Greece, its culture and pantheon of gods, and everything that was associated with them (the fork was associated with the trident of Poseidon).
Until now, a trail of bad fame is visible behind the fork - only bad events are associated with it, for example, dropping a fork is considered an omen of misfortune. Forks cannot be given as a gift - a manifestation of arrogance.
In Europe, the fork took root in the 18th century, although the concept of such a cutlery had existed for a long time, its use was simply not recognized.
The fork was brought to Russia from Poland in 1606 by False Dmitry I and his future wife Marina Mnishek.
It was demonstratively used during the feast on the occasion of the wedding of False Dmitry and Marina in the Kremlin. This became a compelling argument proving the non-Russian origin of False Dmitry, and caused terrible indignation among the clergy and boyars. The fork, brought to Russia by Marina Mnishek, almost became the cause of a popular uprising.
Peter the Great made a huge contribution to the spread of the fork in the Russian state. He carried cutlery with him, including a fork. By the way, the word “fork” was not known in Russian until the 18th century; the device was called “wilts” or “rogatina”. Russian peasants were wary of forks until the beginning of the 20th century, considering the overseas device inconvenient and unnecessary at a simple peasant table.
Forks in our familiar form with curved teeth first appeared in Germany in the 18th century. Around the same time, the number of cloves in the fork was established - four.
In 1860, England introduced mass production of cutlery, which necessarily included a fork, made of silver or silver-plated metals.
And in 1920, stainless steel cutlery began to be produced.
It is noteworthy that opposition to the use of a fork persisted for a very long time. For example, back in 1897, the regulations of the English Navy prohibited sailors from using a knife and fork while eating, since these cutlery, in the opinion of the Admiralty, destroyed discipline and gave rise to effeminacy among the lower ranks. And in most monastic regulations there was a clause that directly forbade monks to eat with a fork.
The traditional position of the fork when setting the table is interesting. As a rule, in the past it was customary to place forks with the tines down. This custom has several versions. One of them says that once during one of their feasts, King George V of Great Britain, in a fit of anger and dissatisfaction, slammed his hand on the table and pierced it with the tines of a fork lying by the plate. It was then that he decreed that forks should only be placed with the tines down!
According to another theory, this is due to the logos of companies and hereditary coats of arms, affixed to the back of the product. To immediately show from afar the origin of the fork and the status of the owner, it was placed with the cloves down. By the way, in France this position of the fork is still considered correct.
According to another version, the forks were placed this way so that the people present at the dinner would not assume any hostility towards themselves.
Spies were often identified by the habit of placing the tines of a fork up or down during dinner.
The size of the cutlery also contributed to maintaining high status. It is known that forks from royal sets of the 17th and 18th centuries are almost twice as large as modern ones.
Currently, according to table setting rules in most countries, forks must be placed with the tines facing up so as not to spoil the tablecloth.
Modern tables are served with cutlery that contains up to a dozen different forks. We want to help you understand a little about the diversity of their types.
Pay attention to the standards of quality forks that are noted by the cutlery manufacturer Robbe & Berking.
- The teeth of the device must be sharp.
- In a correct fork, the bend is made thicker, since it should in no case be deformed even with strong pressure.
- It is imperative to polish the inside of the fork tines, as otherwise it becomes difficult to clean.
- The forks should be slightly thicker in areas of greatest wear, which also helps to extend service life.
Table fork
- Designed for any hot main courses.
- 20.5 cm
- Its length is slightly less than the diameter of the dinner plate.
- It is placed to the left of the plate, and if there are several forks, this one will be the one closest to the plate.
fish fork
- Used for hot fish dishes.
- 17-18 cm
- This fork has four short tines.
- It is slightly shorter and wider than the diner. Depending on what kind of fish the device is intended for, their appearance may be different.
- A fork with rounded edges or a small special recess between the middle teeth (for separating bones) can be placed on the table.
- A fork for hot fish appetizers with three teeth is called a chill fork.
- A fish fork can also have 3 prongs, with one outermost prong wider than the others. It is served with oysters, mussels and cold fish cocktails. A more powerful clove helps separate the flesh of oysters and mussels from the shells and scoop it onto the fork. It is worth noting that such forks exist for right-handers and left-handers.
- The fish fork is placed to the left of the dining room.
Snack fork
- Served with cold dishes, as well as cold and some hot appetizers (scrambled eggs, fried bacon).
- About 18 cm
- This fork has four long tines
- It is an almost exact, but smaller copy of a table fork: the length is slightly less than the diameter of a snack plate.
- Placed on the table to the left of the fish fork.
Dessert fork
- Designed for dishes such as sweet pies, cheese, cottage cheese, apple charlotte
- About 15 cm
- This fork can be easily distinguished from all others by its three prongs
- Sometimes the matter can be complicated by the presence of 4 cloves. In this case, you should pay attention to the length of the fork.
- The length corresponds to the diameter of the dessert plate.
- Usually placed on the table behind the plate, prongs to the right.
Pastry fork
- Designed for soft cakes and biscuits, soft pies and pastries.
- 13-15 cm.
- A cake fork usually has 3 tines.
- In terms of size, it is the smallest fork among the main table forks. The outermost tine of such a fork is thicker in width and has a slightly beveled end.
- Served separately without knife
- It is worth noting that such forks exist for right-handers and left-handers
Fruit fork
- Sometimes it is called salad
- Used for apples, oranges, melons and some types of berries
- It is usually served with a fruit knife together if the fruit is served fresh. If the fruit is canned or in the form of a fruit salad, the knife is not served.
- 13-14 cm
- This fork may have 2 or 3 prongs.
- Served directly with fruit or fruit salad.
Svetlana Ponomareva - consultant at the Art Salon on Sadova Street in Karlovy Vary
Sources used: materials provided by manufacturers, websites meissen.com, lladro.com, robbeberking.com,
antique forums, scientific literature on topics related to the technology of production of porcelain and silverware
and with their manufacturers, in Russian, German and English
Who would have thought that history of the fork- a simple household item, created over centuries! It is known that in the 16th-18th centuries, existing rules of good manners prohibited taking meat from a plate with all five hands, especially with both hands. It was necessary to carefully use three fingers, under no circumstances wiping them on clothes, but rinsing them in a bowl of water specially designed for this purpose. There was a time when in rich European cities it became fashionable to eat with gloves so as not to get your hands dirty. After lunch, the gloves, of course, were thrown away because they became incredibly greasy and dirty. It’s strange, but forks already existed at that time. It’s hard to even imagine that the noble beauties in ancient portraits at banquet tables could handle fish and meat with their hands!
The very first forks in history had one sharp tine, later there were two. The ancient Romans used this special tool to remove pieces of meat from a brazier or cauldron. Yes, it’s hard to call it a fork when you remember how noble patricians ate meat, and the fat flowed down to their elbows in streams.
The Naples National Museum houses a fork that was found in a grave in the ancient settlement of Paestum in southwestern Italy. Experts say that its age is more than two and a half thousand years. In the 11th century, Peter Damiani, bishop and cardinal of Ostia, claimed that a princess from Venice introduced the fashion of using a fork during meals. The innovation did not stand still, spreading to other cities and countries. In 1379, the fork came to the French royal table during the reign of Charles V. In 1608, they were brought to England from Italy.
Closer to the middle of the 16th century, forks came into use, which are already familiar to us. Small gilded, silver, forks with expensive decorations have already acquired the proportions that exist today. They easily replaced the two knives that “cultured people” used at the table. Forks were considered an item of obvious luxury and a sign of delicacy, so many continued to take meat with their hands, not succumbing to the fashionable trend, which even satyrs ridiculed.
In 1860, England finally established large-scale production of cutlery, as well as quite normal small forks, which were made of silver and silver-plated metal. Only in 1920 did spoons, forks and knives made of stainless steel conquer the whole world.
Partially fork history Russia did not lag behind the rest of Europe, and even vice versa. During the reign of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, forks were already served at the table for honored guests. His son, Peter the Great, also contributed to this historical process in Rus'. In the 18th century, it was with his help that the entire Russian aristocracy learned about the fork. In the well-known publication “Russian Antiquity” for the period of 1824 it is written that the orderly on duty was obliged to carry a knife, spoon and fork with him, laying them out in front of the tsar, even if he had to dine at a party. This shows that Peter I doubted that even in the best houses he would be served all the necessary cutlery.
The design of modern forks was formed in the 19th – 20th centuries. Snack bars, regular, dessert, for meat, for fish and side dishes, for cutting lobster and meat fibers, in special sets with a spatula or knife for oysters or asparagus... Rules, how to use them and how to distinguish them - a whole lot of books have been written about this and articles. But that is another story.
Sincerely
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The history of the fork goes back decades. True, they began to use it much later than a spoon and a knife. Basically, they ate food with their hands, using cutlery only as improvised means. Sometimes, some aristocrats held one knife in each hand - for cutting and transferring food from the plate directly to the mouth. In those days, the nobles did not even realize that in the future it would be much easier and more convenient to eat their favorite dishes.
The first time a fork is mentioned is in the records of the 9th century in the Middle East. The new item had just two teeth, so it was a little awkward to use. Residents of the East only practiced stringing pieces. Towards the end of the century, the fork was brought to Italy - the country of gourmets. There is a legend that Princess Maria Agrira was the first to use a fork. According to the version, the little noblewoman did not touch food with her hands; instead, she forced her servants to cut all the food into tiny pieces. Near the princess lay an instrument of extraordinary beauty with two prongs, just like its owner. She attached the dishes to it.
Only three centuries later, the culinary accessory was already known in Europe, and after another time, neither nobles nor merchants could do without it. The northern part of the continent became acquainted with the fork much later. The first to describe the “miracle” was Thomas Coryatt, after returning home from a trip to Italy. But England saw the fork only in the 18th century. True, not everyone recognized the invention. The Catholic Church was against the use of a two-pronged culinary accessory. The priests all insisted that this was an excess of luxury. Moreover, the device instilled fear in religious leaders.
The fork came to Russia, and then other Slavic countries, in 1606. Queen Marina Mnishek appeared at one wedding feast with a novelty in her hand, which completely shocked everyone present. Guests could not even imagine that in just a few decades this food attribute would become an integral part of the meal. Much later, one European who traveled all over great Russia once wrote in his essays that at every noble dinner for guests they put a spoon and bread on the table, as well as a fork, a knife and a plate. 
It was only in the 18th century that the word “fork” became firmly rooted in the Russian language. Before this, it had never been called “rohatina” or “wiltsa”... All this time, the accessory had the shape of a handle and straight teeth. Of course, it was much more convenient and even more interesting to eat with it, but over the years people realized that even that was not enough. It was for this reason that curved teeth were invented in Germany in the same century, and a little later there were more of them - as many as four pieces.
Modern feasts are served in such a way that there can be up to a dozen different forks on the table. All of them were “born” literally recently - at the beginning of the last century. Hundreds of books and manuals have been written on how to properly use this or that type of fork. Many historians and culinary specialists have devoted their activities to teaching people to understand these attributes, since sometimes there are actually a lot of them.
Today, a lemon fork is distinguished - a small accessory with two sharp teeth. There is a two-horned fork for serving herring. An attribute with a wide blade-shaped base and five teeth, which are connected at the ends by a bridge, is used for sprats. There is also a special device for crabs, crayfish and shrimp, which includes a long fork with two teeth. The model for seafood and cold fish cocktails has three teeth, one of which (the left one) is slightly larger than the others, so that it is convenient to separate the flesh of oysters and mussels from the shells. Finally, there is a chill fork, which is used for hot fish appetizers (with three prongs). Squid needles are also classified as forks.
Many people, imagining the times of knights and noble ladies, and later gentlemen and ladies, the court etiquette of French kings or Italian doges, do not even think about how exactly they ate. And if you ask, they will answer that with a knife and fork. But no. At least not right away.
Who invented the fork
Interestingly, there were no forks in Europe until the 14th century (with the exception of Italy, which had close contacts with the Byzantine Empire). But first things first. The history of the invention of the fork is as follows...
The fork was invented in the Middle East around the 9th century AD (at least mentions of a similar device are found at this time), at that time “enlightened Europe” used a knife and... A second knife. Or a knife for cutting meat and hands for transporting food from the plate to the mouth.
A little earlier, in Ancient Egypt, forks were used during cooking. In ancient Rome, two-pronged forks were used to remove meat from a cauldron or brazier. That is, the item was purely utilitarian, used so as not to burn your hands. In ancient Rome they ate, naturally, with their hands.
Travel to Europe
The fork came to Europe from the East through Byzantium. There are references to the fact that the Byzantine princess, not wanting to eat with her hands, like all other people, ate with the help of a two-pronged fork. The device first came to Italy in the 11th century. Then, to France - in the XIV. At that time, the Queen of France, Jeanne d'Herve, had exactly one fork in the whole country.
Forks came to England only in 1608 from Italy. But it was in England that mass production of forks was launched in 1860. Modern forks with curved four prongs originated in Germany in the 18th century.
Etiquette
By the 16th century, the fork had come into use in aristocratic society. It was an item of insane luxury. The rules of good manners of the 16th-18th centuries still dictated that meat should be handled exclusively with three fingers, and not with all five. Do not wipe your hands on clothes or a tablecloth, but rinse them in a special bowl of water.
Sometimes aristocrats, in order not to get their hands dirty, wore gloves, which they then simply threw away
The Catholic Church did not like the fork. Its use was considered as excessive luxury, godlessness, or even connection with the devil. Sometimes forks were called “spoons of splitting,” and it was often said that “God in his wisdom gave man a natural “fork”—his fingers. And eating with a fork means insulting God.”
The fork was first brought to Muscovy by the wife of the false Dmitry (both the First and the Second), Marina Mnishek (a Pole) in 1606. The presence of a fork in the wife of False Dmitry served as one of the proofs of his non-Russian origin. Peter the Great also had a fork, which, along with all the other cutlery, was carried by his servant, since not all noble houses of that time could provide Peter with a full set.
Who invented the fork is actually unknown, but the history of its invention, distribution and use is much more interesting than the name of the inventor.
