Fork Tines with Threaded Screw End for Attaching Handle
ca. 1700â1800
Medium
cutlery
Classification
cutlery
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
The Robert L. Metzenberg Collection, gift of Eleanor L. Metzenberg
Accession Number
1985-103-263-a
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This intriguing artifact, titled *Fork Tines with Threaded Screw End for Attaching Handle*, dates to around 1700–1800 and exemplifies 18th-century ingenuity in everyday metalwork. Crafted as modular cutlery components, these tines feature a clever threaded screw mechanism at the base, designed for easy attachment to a variety of handles. Such practicality allowed for customization, repair, or adaptation—reflecting the era's blend of functionality and emerging consumerism in colonial America. In the context of early American material culture, this piece highlights the evolution of tableware fr...
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...