Although the knife dates back to Neanderthal times, the fork is a relatively new invention and did not arrive on these shores until the 17th century where the British had been perfectly happy to shovel food into their mouths with their hands or scoop it with pieces of four-day-old bread known as 'trenchers'.
It is believed that forks were first developed from a small steadying knife that was used to hold a joint of meat steady whilst it was being carved. The single point turned into a single prong, and then a two-pronged fork, much like carving forks today. Three-pronged and four-pronged versions were developed as forks became smaller and more suited to eating with, rather than carving with.
In 1611 Thomas Coryat, an English traveller and writer, attempted to bring forks back from Italy but was widely ridiculed with the grave insult 'Furcifer', or fork bearer. However forks gradually seeped into English culture, and by the mid-19th century the factories of Sheffield and Birmingham were churning out modern four-pronged forks in their millions.
Roullier White's collection of finest grade Maxwell & Williams 18/10 stainless steel cutlery comes in this elegant, timeless 'Madison' design which blends in perfectly with both traditional and contemporary homes.
