Fork with Agate Handle
ca. 1720â50
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
1985-103-117
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This elegant *Fork with Agate Handle dating to around 1720–50, exemplifies the refined craftsmanship of 18th-century cutlery Crafted as a luxury dining implement, it features a polished agate handle—a semi-precious stone prized for its translucent banded patterns and durability—paired with a metal tine likely forged from silver or a similar alloy. Such pieces were not everyday tools but status symbols for affluent households, reflecting the growing sophistication of table manners in colonial America and Europe during the Georgian era. Forks like this one marked a shift in dining etiquette; on...
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...