The fork appeared in European table use in the 15th century. Before this, both kings and slaves ate food with spoons, knives and their own hands. The first forks were flat, two-pronged and rather uncomfortable. Gradually acquiring a modern form, the device with teeth began to acquire many modifications: forks for desserts, fish, salads and other dishes appeared.
Dinner fork
A dinner fork is a regular fork with four tines, designed for eating main courses. Served with a table knife. The dinner table is taken in the left hand, the knife in the right. In order to separate the meat from the main piece, the fork is turned over with the curved side up and stuck into the meat at a slight angle. Cut a piece with a knife and put it into your mouth with a fork. To take a side dish from the plate, turn the fork upside down and use it as a spoon, helping yourself with a knife.
Fish fork
The fish fork is smaller than a dinner fork. It is equipped with four or three flat teeth. Sometimes two pairs of cloves are separated in the middle by a shallow notch. In good restaurants, a knife is served with the fish; in the absence of one, two forks are used to eat the fish. If you are served a whole piece of fish, press it against the plate with one, and use the second fork to separate the fish meat from the bones. After eating this part, turn the piece over to the other side and repeat the process. Ideally, after you eat the dish, there should be a neat fish skeleton left on the plate.
Salad fork
A salad fork has four tines and a wide base. The fork was given this shape specifically so that it could be used to eat different types of salads. A salad knife is served with a salad fork. Use a salad fork in the same way as a dinner fork: turn it over with the curved side up and stick it into large pieces or leaves, cutting them off with a knife. When serving finely chopped salad, the fork is used as a spoon.
Dessert fork
A dessert fork is the smallest fork with two or three shortened tines. There are dessert forks designed for pies, cakes and pastries, and special two-pronged forks for fruit. If a dessert knife is not served, then a dessert fork is held in the right hand: pieces of dessert are separated with the edge of the fork, pricked and put into the mouth. During a buffet table, a baking fork is used: a device with a wide, pointed outer tine. These teeth cut off pieces of baked goods like a knife, holding a plate of dessert in one hand.
Nowadays, the idea that it is more convenient to take solid and fatty food from a plate with a fork rather than with your fingers seems reasonable and simple. The fork is the youngest of the cutlery. Usually its appearance in everyday life is attributed to the Middle Ages, but this is not entirely true; its prototype appeared much earlier. Archaeological discoveries have shown that this sharp instrument was used in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The culture of using a common fork during meals was common in ancient Greece and Rome, but in all cases it was a large device with two prongs for pulling meat out of a cauldron or vat. The Naples Archaeological Museum houses a fork found in the ancient city of Paestum in southwestern Italy. She is about two and a half thousand years old. In the new Rome, that is, the Byzantine Empire, the fork was also used, and it was from there that it began its march into the world, but in a new quality. This happened under very funny circumstances.
Public opinion
In the 11th century, a Venetian doge married a Greek princess. By this time, in the Byzantine world they were already using forks at the table, at least in the Venetian chronicle we read that the princess brought food to her mouth using two-pronged golden forks, but in Venice this gave rise to a terrible scandal. The novelty seemed sophistication on the verge of blasphemy. How can you disdain God-given food and bring it to your mouth with some disgusting forks! After some time, the princess fell ill with some disgusting disease, which Saint Bonaventure, without hesitation, declared God's punishment.
However, starting from the 13th century, the fork, as an individual eating utensil, was mentioned in descriptions of the household utensils of European monarchs. For example, in 1297 it was named as a personal item of King Edward 1. It was also mentioned in 1379 among the jewelry of the French king Charles 5.
The Italians especially loved this item, as medieval culinary manuscripts and descriptions of feasts in literary works of that time show. Many historians point to Italy, or more precisely Venice, as the birthplace of the European Fork. According to one of the greatest experts on the history of modern gastronomy, Jean Louis Flandrin, the fork "was allegedly invented in Venice, and in the 14th and 15th centuries it became known in Italian homes, and later, in the 16th and 17th centuries, it reached the countries neighboring Italy." But by and large, at the end of the Middle Ages, the fork still appears as a tool used to take food from a common dish.
Procession across Europe
In the 14th-16th centuries, forks remained a whim of the rich, and in France, at that time, they stopped eating with a knife and used a single-pronged fork, like an awl, to prick pieces of food onto it.
Using a fork at the table has long been considered extravagant, funny and even a little dangerous. In the second half of the 16th century, the fork, which appeared in court use of the French king Henry 3, strengthened the rumor about his licentiousness.
For a long time, Louis 14 could not comprehend the meaning of the fork. He even forbade the Duke of Burgundy to eat with a fork in his presence, and only at the end of his life did the monarch take pity on the unfortunate servant and admit that she was useful.
Even in the 17th century, the fork remained a luxury item, available only to the upper class for a simple reason. That they were made from noble metals.
Forks came to England only in 1611. It is believed that the traveler Thomas Coriet brought them from his European journey, for which he was jokingly nicknamed Furcifer, which meant fork-bearer. In 1608, during a trip to Italy, he kept a diary, supplemented by notes about what impressed him especially strongly. Among other things, there is this entry:
“When Italians eat meat, they use small pitchforks made of iron or steel, and sometimes silver. There’s no way to force them to eat with their hands; they think it’s bad because not everyone has clean hands.”
Before heading home, Coriet acquired such a “pitchfork.” Their shape bore little resemblance to a modern fork - this device had only two prongs, and the handle, decorated with a knob, was very tiny. In England, the new instrument was met with skepticism. The British considered the fork unnecessary and preferred to use their hands. It took at least half a century before forks were used as a replacement for fingers.
Military regulations
However, suspicions hung over the fork for a very long time. For example, even in 1897, Royal Navy regulations prohibited sailors from using a knife and fork while eating. These cutlery, according to the British Admiralty, undermined discipline and gave rise to effeminacy among the lower ranks, but the fork managed to break through the wall of mistrust and make its way into life.
As already mentioned, the first European forks were made of gold and silver and had two teeth. They were used mainly for serving meat or fruit to guests from a common dish or when cooking meat, while the main food continued to be taken with their hands.
By the beginning of the 19th century, the fork received a third tooth, and by the last decade of the same century it acquired the familiar four-pronged appearance. Before this, it was already known in Italy, where it was adapted for eating pasta.
In the mid-18th and early 19th centuries, Europe learned a huge number of new products. Recipes for delicious dishes were developed that required special attention. As a result, the rules of etiquette became more complex, and many types of specialized knives, spoons and forks appeared. There are dozens of varieties of forks - regular and snack forks, for meat, side dishes, fish, fruits, seafood, and so on, but what is hidden behind all this variety of forks? The main motive is the same - the desire to leave your hands clean, because eating and getting dirty is shameful and awkward. “The fork,” says the historian of European everyday life, Ellias, “is nothing more than the embodiment of a certain standard of shame and awkward situations.”
Word fork(English fork) comes from the Latin “fulka”, which means garden fork. The fork, as a cutlery, was familiar to the ancient Greeks. At that time, forks were relatively large, had only two massive straight tines and were used to distribute large chunks of meat among dishes. Another early mention of a fork can be found in the Old Testament, Samuel 2:13 (“When someone offered a sacrifice, a priestly boy, while the meat was boiling, came with a fork in his hand.”).
By the 7th century AD, in Asia Minor, the fork had become a symbol of wealth and power and was used by royal families during feasts. From the 10th century, forks spread to the territory of the Byzantine Empire, where similar cutlery was also used only by aristocrats. From there, in the 11th century, the fork was brought to Venice by a Byzantine princess who became the wife of the Doge. However, in Italy the fork did not find use for a long time (more on this later) and only gained popularity by the 16th century. It is not difficult to guess that in the rest of Europe this necessary cutlery appeared only at the end of the 16th century. And it spread only by the 18th.
Today we take the fork for granted. In addition, no one has yet canceled the ease of use of it. Why then did the fork so slowly make its way to our table?
The fact is that, despite the fact that, as we remember, in Greece, meat was laid out on dishes with a fork, it was customary to eat with your hands. They also ate it in Ancient Rome. This habit was so firmly rooted in the hearts of people that it was very difficult to dislodge it. With the beginning of the spread of Christianity, the position of the fork only weakened: the fact is that by preaching monotheism, Christians naturally waged a “war” against the pantheons of gods of Rome, Greece, Egypt... It was decided that since only God and the Devil exist, then all the old gods were recorded as demons - minions of the Devil, who have power over individual elements of nature, and thus confuse the minds of people with their imaginary power. Accordingly, much of what had to do with the ancient gods was declared prohibited - including the fork: the trident of Poseidon. In addition, the pitchfork was also assigned an unseemly role: the persistent expression “Devil's Pitchfork” is still preserved.
Thus, unlike the “eastern barbarians,” all “enlightened Europeans” until the 16th century ate mainly with their hands, or at worst with a knife. When the fork appeared in England, it was simply ridiculed. “Why do we need a fork, if the Lord himself gave us hands,” approximately the same sentiment reigned throughout Europe at that time. So the path to recognition of the fork was very thorny.
Now let's talk about why it is customary to place the fork with the tines down when setting the table. There are several theories on this subject: according to the first of them, one day during a feast, King George 5th was upset about something and, in a fit of anger, slammed his fist hard on the table... As a result, the monarch’s hand fell on the teeth of the fork, and his mood deteriorated even more .
According to another version, since the fork was a luxury item for a long time, the nobility often boasted of the fame of the master who made this or that piece of utensils. Since the mark and engraving were applied to the reverse side, the fork was placed so that its origin could be seen from afar.
According to the third version, which is again associated with the English royal court, there was a tradition of cutting off all the corners of the sandwich served with tea. And so that God forbid the monarch should suspect hostility towards himself, the fork was held only with the teeth down. For the same reason, the knife was placed with the blade inward towards the plate, so that the presence of such a dangerous object on the table would not look like a threat.
Another interesting point: modern European tradition involves holding the fork with the tines down during the meal. Americans, on the contrary, prefer to use it with the teeth facing up. This feature was played out in several films, where American spies were exposed only because they ate with a fork, as is customary in their homeland. So, if you are an enemy agent, take the trouble to learn the traditions of the local population.
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, people associated misfortune 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 simple household item, so familiar to modern people and easy to use, but nevertheless it has an interesting history. Just think, its use was once the subject of attack and the basis for writing pamphlets. Below is a selection of interesting facts from several Internet sources. All of them, despite some inconsistency, can give a clear picture of the worldview and views, including the time period we have chosen with regards to it.
When did the fork appear? There is no clear answer to this question. The first mention of a fork was found in the 9th century in the Middle East. Such forks were huge and had only one sharp tine, later - two. The ancient Romans used them to remove pieces of meat from a cauldron or roasting pan. These tools cannot yet be called forks in our understanding, since the noble patricians ate meat with their hands, along which fat flowed down to the elbows...
A cooking set whose approximate age is estimated at three thousand years
The Naples National Museum houses a fork found in one of the graves of the ancient city of Paestum in southwestern Italy. She is more than two and a half thousand years old.
In 1072, in Byzantium, in the city of Constantinople, in the imperial palace, a single fork was made of gold, its handle was decorated with mother-of-pearl inlay on ivory. This fork was intended for the Byzantine princess Maria Iverskaya, the widow of Emperor Michael Duca, who considered it humiliating to eat with her hands. The fork had two straight tines, which could only be used to skewer, not scoop, food.
After 100 years, the fork came from Byzantium to Italy, where it was first made in two copies - for the Venetian Doge and the Pope.
Back in the 16th-18th centuries, rules of good manners prescribed not to take meat with all your fingers, much less with two hands, but only with three fingers; do not wipe your fingers on your clothes, but rinse them in a special bowl of water... At one time it was fashionable to eat with gloves so that your hands remained clean. After lunch, soiled gloves were thrown away.
The first mentions of forks in Europe date back to the 14th century: for example, there were several forks in the treasury of Duke John II of Breton. True, they ate not meat, but fruits or fried cheese. Peter Galveston, a favorite of King Edward II of England, had 69 silver spoons and three forks with which he ate a pear. The inventory of the wealth of the Hungarian Queen Clementia for 1328 mentions thirty spoons and one fork made of gold. After her death, the French queen Jeanne d'Evreux left one fork, carefully packed in a small chest, and 64 spoons. The fork became a necessary attribute at the meals of the Italian nobility and merchants.
In France, the fork first appeared on the royal table during the reign of Charles V, more precisely in 1379. The first forks were imported into England in 1608 from Italy. Charles V had several golden forks with handles encrusted with precious stones, which were used for rare desserts served at the most refined courts of the time.
Small silver, often gilded, richly decorated food forks in the proportions and forms in which we know them now came into use only by the middle of the 16th century, replacing the two knives that were used at the table in “decent houses.”
Cutlery from the era of Louis XIV, made by Nicholas Bellier in 1680
The pamphlet “The Island of Hermaphrodites,” published at the end of the 16th century and directed against the minions of the French king Henry III, who adhered to a non-traditional sexual orientation, states as something extraordinary that they never touched meat with their hands, but used forks, “which no matter how hard it costs them.” However, already in the 17th century, the fork began to win its place on the banquet table.
Attempts to introduce the fork into use encountered stubborn resistance from the Church. The Catholic Church, calling the fork “an unnecessary luxury,” did not welcome its use - its use in the courts of monarchs was considered as godlessness or even a connection with the devil.
Rococo knife and fork, circa 1730-1750
The fork appeared in Russia in 1606, and Marina Mnishek brought it. At her wedding feast in the Kremlin, Marina with a fork shocked the Russian boyars and clergy. This fork was given as one of the arguments for the popular uprising against False Dmitry. Since the Tsar and Tsarina eat not with their hands, but with some kind of spear, it means that they are not Russians, but the offspring of the devil. Even the word fork itself finally entered the Russian language only in the 18th century, and before that time this object was called “rogatina” and “fork”. To this day, superstitions reflect a wary attitude towards the fork - it is believed that it should not be given as a gift - this is a sign of arrogance.
Under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, as one European wrote in his travel essays, “at dinner, spoons and bread were placed on the table for each guest, and a plate and a knife; and a fork - only for honored guests."
Alexei Mikhailovich's son Peter the Great also contributed to the history of the fork in Rus'. Not without his help, the Russian aristocracy recognized the fork in the 18th century. The publication “Russian Antiquity” for 1824 contains information about how the table was set for Peter I:
“A wooden spoon, seasoned with ivory, a knife and fork with green bone handles were always placed at his cutlery, and the orderly on duty was required 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.
Replica cutlery from 1747-1776
Modern tables are served with utensils, among which there may be a dozen types of forks: regular and snack forks, for meat, fish, side dishes, two-pronged - large and smaller, used for cutting meat fibers, special for cutting lobsters, a fork complete with a knife for oysters, forks in combination with spatulas - for asparagus... All of them are of recent origin: XIX - early XX centuries.
England's first fork
In 1608, the Englishman Thomas Coriat visited Italy. During the trip, he kept a diary in which he wrote down everything that struck him especially strongly. He described the splendor of Venetian palaces standing in the middle of the water, and the beauty of the marble temples of Ancient Rome, and the formidable grandeur of Vesuvius. But one thing amazed Coriath more than all the beauties of Italy put together.
In his diary there is the following entry: “When Italians eat meat, they use small pitchforks made of iron or steel, and sometimes silver. There is no way you can force Italians to eat with their hands. They think it’s not good because not everyone’s hands are clean.”
Before heading home, Koriat acquired such a pitchfork. The fork he bought bore little resemblance to a modern one. This fork had only two tines, and the handle, decorated with a knob at the end, was very tiny. In general, this instrument was more like a tuning fork.
Arriving home, Koriat decided to show off his purchase to friends and acquaintances. At a dinner party, he pulled a fork out of his pocket and began to eat the Italian way.
All eyes turned to him. And when he explained what this thing was in his hands, everyone wanted to take a closer look at the Italian eating tool. The fork went around the entire table. The ladies admired the elegant decoration, the men were surprised at the ingenuity of the Italians, but everyone unanimously decided that the Italians were big eccentrics, and that eating with a fork was very inconvenient.
Thomas Coriat tried to argue, arguing that it was not good to take meat with your hands, that not everyone’s hands were clean. This caused general outrage. Does Mr Coriat think that in England no one washes their hands before eating? Are ten fingers given by nature not enough for us and we must add two artificial fingers to them? Let him show how easy it is to handle these ridiculous pitchforks.
Koriat wanted to show his art. But the very first piece of meat he took from the dish fell from the fork onto the tablecloth. There was no end to the laughter and jokes. The poor traveler had to hide his fork back in his pocket.
It took at least fifty years before forks came into fashion in England.
(c) compiled based on materials from online publications by N. Konopleva, “Science and Life” No. 1, 2003;
E. Kolodochnikova, "Popular scientific historical magazine".