Fork

Art Historical Context

This elegant silver gilt fork, crafted in London around 1839–40 during the early Victorian era, exemplifies the exquisite metalwork produced by British silversmiths. Measuring 7 5/8 inches in length, it belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection, gifted through the bequest of Alfred Duane Pell in 1924. Silver gilt—silver coated with a thin layer of gold—combines the durability of silver with the opulent sheen of gold, a technique prized for luxury tableware that resisted tarnish while signaling wealth and refinement. In Victorian Britain, din...