Fork with Eight-Paneled Agate Handle
late 17th century
Classification
cutlery
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Mrs. Francis B. Lothrop, Mrs. George Batchelder, and Gordon Abbott, Sr.
Accession Number
1957-29-4-e
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the opulent world of late 17th-century London dining with this exquisite *Fork with Eight-Paneled Agate Handle*, crafted by William Boswell, a skilled artisan active in the city during that era. Dating to the late 1600s, this piece of cutlery reflects the growing sophistication of English tableware amid the Restoration period, when forks transitioned from continental novelties to symbols of refined taste among the elite. The fork's standout feature is its handle, meticulously crafted from agate—a semi-precious stone prized for its durability and attractive banding—shaped into eight ...