Fork with Amber and Bone Figural Handle
ca. 1650
Classification
cutlery
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
The Robert L. Metzenberg Collection, gift of Eleanor L. Metzenberg
Accession Number
1985-103-123
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This exquisite *Fork with Amber and Bone Figural Handle*, dating to around 1650, offers a glimpse into the refined world of 17th-century dining. Part of the Smithsonian American Art's collection, gifted from The Robert L. Metzen Collection, it exemplifies early cutlery as both functional tool and status symbol. Forks were still novel in Europe and the American colonies during this period, transitioning from Italian elite tables to broader use among the affluent, signaling sophistication amid colonial expansion. The handle's combination of amber—a prized, translucent resin from the Baltic regi...
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...