Five fearsome forks

[Maggie.]

Hi All,

These forks were found over 30 years ago whilst we were emptying father in law's house after he passed away.  We assume they are forks.

I would love to have an opinion on their age.  They have incredibly sharp metal tines, each fork being 6.6 inches long, with a very basic wooden handle.  There are no distinguishing markings whatsoever on either the tines or the handles.

Many thanks for reading.

Maggie

[aghadowey]

Whatever you do DO NOT throw them out! Probably Victorian- we had ones in our house but the last of them broke a few years ago as they've been used constantly. They are perfect for spearing delicate vegetables like potatoes.
My father-in-law said the 'older ones' in the house had only 2 tines and his father wouldn't use any 'new-style' forks.

[oldtimer]

Hi Maggie,

Aren't they lovely! Have you thought of taking them to a local museum and seeing if they could help date them?

[aghadowey]

I think it will be hard to pin down a date for them as they were produced over a long period of time and unlike other types of forks there are no markings to help with identification.

[Maggie.]

We really ought to get them dated Judy ...... they have been with us for so long that until I started browsing this section of RC this afternoon I'd forgotten about them.  I thought it might make an interesting post so I took their picture.  Our house is rather full of old artifacts, including us, and these forks reside on a shelf in the kitchen next to my dad's brass pestle and mortar that also must be quite old (he was a chemist & druggist and I have a lot of his stuff).

Aghadowey - don't worry there is no way we would ever throw them out.  OH and I are a couple of hoarders. 

Maggie

[oldtimer]

.  Our house is rather full of old artifacts, including us    Maggie

 

Wonderful to have so many family heirlooms. Hope your children will appreciate them one day.

[Maggie.]

OH reckons that they belonged to his grandmother so that would put them at the latest 1880-1890-ish.

The artifacts can take a lot of dusting, Judy.

[oldtimer]

I remember my grandmother having one quite similar, that they used as a pickle fork 

Unfortunately though, after my grandparents' deaths, most "old" things were thrown away 

[Greensleeves]

They certainly are very handsome pieces of cutlery, Maggie.   We will all be trawling around our houses now, looking for other items of interest to post!