Fork
1800–50
Medium
Wrought iron
Dimensions
H.: 43.8 cm (17 1/4 in.)
Classification
metalwork
Department
Arts of the Americas
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
73952
Art Historical Context
Discover the *Fork*, a captivating piece of wrought iron metalwork from the Art Institute Chicago's Arts of the department. Created by an unknown artist between 1800 and 1850, this robust object measures 43.8 cm (17 1/4 inches) in height, embodying the sturdy elegance of early 19th-century craftsmanship. Wrought iron, shaped through the labor-intensive process of heating and hand-hammering, was a cornerstone of pre-industrial metalworking in the Americas. This produced objects that were both functional and resilient, ideal for everyday tools amid the era's agrarian lifestyles and expanding se...