Meat Fork
Unknown Artist
1700–1800
Medium
Iron
Dimensions
H. 29 1/4 in. (74.3 cm)
Classification
Meat fork
Department
The American Wing
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mrs. F. D. Millet, 1912
Accession Number
13.142.11
Art Historical Context
Step into the robust world of 18th-century American domestic with this striking *Meat Fork*, crafted from iron between 1700 and 1800. Measuring an impressive 29¼ inches (74.3 cm) in height, its elongated form was designed for practical use—likely piercing and turning large cuts of meat over open hearths or spits during cooking. Forged iron, a staple medium of the era, highlights the durability and heat resistance essential for colonial kitchens, where families relied on such tools for daily survival and feasting. Housed in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, this anonymous ar...