Carving Fork with Antler Handle and Boar's Head Terminal
Classification
cutlery
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Bequest of Julian Clarence Levi
Accession Number
1972-5-3-c
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Crafted by the renowned Gorham Manufacturing Company of Providence, Rhode Island—founded in 1818 and a leader in American silverware—this *Carving Fork with Antler Handle and Bo Head Terminal* dates to 1900. Gorham was celebrated for its exquisite metalwork, blending industrial precision with artistic flair during the Gilded Age, when opulent dining sets symbolized wealth and refinement among America's elite. The fork's design marries natural elegance with bold symbolism: a sturdy antler handle evokes rustic hunting traditions, while the boar's head terminal at the end adds a fierce, trophy-l...