Fork
ca. 1700
Classification
cutlery
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
The Robert L. Metzenberg Collection, gift of Eleanor L. Metzenberg
Accession Number
1985-103-94
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the elegant world of 18th-century dining with this intriguing *Fork*, dating to around 1700. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum as part of the Smithsonian Collection, this piece of cutlery exemplifies everyday objects that reveal much about colonial life. Though the artist and exact medium remain unknown—research is ongoing—it stands as a testament to the of the early American or European workshops that supplied households during this period. Forks like this one marked a shift in table manners and material culture. By the late 17th and early 18th centuries, they evolved f...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...