It is widely believed forks havve been available only in Europe and America. Evidence, however, suggests forks were used in China long before the popularity of chopsticks. This is according to recent Qijia Dynasty tombs. However, forks are readily becoming more popular in East Asia. The word comes from a Latin term referring to pitchforks, and forks were known in the ancient world. There are references to them in the Bible and in Greek texts. However, they were not commonly used for eating.
In ancient Europe there was no room for the fork. Food was often eaten with the hands, and a common spoon called for when needed. Aristocrats had daintier manners, and might hold two knives for cutting and moving food to the mouth. Spoons were used for broth and soups. Forks were a major improvement, since they allowed meat to be easily held in one place, and for pieces of food to be shaken off, removing extra liquid or sauce. That made eating with a fork a much neater proposition than eating with even two knives.
The fork, as we know it, was said to have been introduced in the 10th century by Theophanu, Emperor Otto II's Byzantine wife. Over the next century, these pieces of dinnerware made it to Italy, where they became more established. Merchant and upper class people were using forks for eating regularly by the end of the sixteenth century. It was appropriate for guests to bring their own forks and spoons to dinners, a behavior introduced in France by Catherin de Medici and her entourage.
It seems Northern Europe had considerably more difficulty with the fork. English texts describe the use of the fork as feminine and foreign. Some Catholic writers even viewed the use of the fork as excessively delicate and against God. In their view, man had been created with fingers to use in eating, and to substitute a fork was an insult. Because of these things, the fork didn't enter common use in Britain until the eighteenth century, around the time the modern curved fork design developed in Germany. In the nineteenth century, the familiar four-tine design most of us use became standard.
Since then, there haven't been many changes in the design of the fork, but the twentieth century did bring us the spork - a half fork, half spoon utensil that makes travel with utensils easier. Only one piece of cutlery is needed to eat many meals, since the spoon shaped part of the utensil can scoop food, and the shortened front tines can spear it. Military and fast food settings, as well as campers, have adopted this unusual variant of the fork. Over history, the fork has undergone a lot of changes, and branched out into many different types. There are now forks for just about every purpose, from fish forks to dinner forks, pickle forks to fondue forks. That means that you can find one of these interesting pieces of dinnerware to go with every occasion. - 15343
In ancient Europe there was no room for the fork. Food was often eaten with the hands, and a common spoon called for when needed. Aristocrats had daintier manners, and might hold two knives for cutting and moving food to the mouth. Spoons were used for broth and soups. Forks were a major improvement, since they allowed meat to be easily held in one place, and for pieces of food to be shaken off, removing extra liquid or sauce. That made eating with a fork a much neater proposition than eating with even two knives.
The fork, as we know it, was said to have been introduced in the 10th century by Theophanu, Emperor Otto II's Byzantine wife. Over the next century, these pieces of dinnerware made it to Italy, where they became more established. Merchant and upper class people were using forks for eating regularly by the end of the sixteenth century. It was appropriate for guests to bring their own forks and spoons to dinners, a behavior introduced in France by Catherin de Medici and her entourage.
It seems Northern Europe had considerably more difficulty with the fork. English texts describe the use of the fork as feminine and foreign. Some Catholic writers even viewed the use of the fork as excessively delicate and against God. In their view, man had been created with fingers to use in eating, and to substitute a fork was an insult. Because of these things, the fork didn't enter common use in Britain until the eighteenth century, around the time the modern curved fork design developed in Germany. In the nineteenth century, the familiar four-tine design most of us use became standard.
Since then, there haven't been many changes in the design of the fork, but the twentieth century did bring us the spork - a half fork, half spoon utensil that makes travel with utensils easier. Only one piece of cutlery is needed to eat many meals, since the spoon shaped part of the utensil can scoop food, and the shortened front tines can spear it. Military and fast food settings, as well as campers, have adopted this unusual variant of the fork. Over history, the fork has undergone a lot of changes, and branched out into many different types. There are now forks for just about every purpose, from fish forks to dinner forks, pickle forks to fondue forks. That means that you can find one of these interesting pieces of dinnerware to go with every occasion. - 15343
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