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Two pronged forks were used in many |
Two pronged '''forks''' were used in many [[Europe]]an cultures (including the [[England|English]]) since before the [[12th century]] (I believe) for the carving of [[meat]]. Each family might have one of two such carving forks for use at the table (ie. used only to chop up the meat, didn't get anywhere near anyone's mouth). |
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The earliest evidence of personal eating forks I've come across is in [[12th Century]] Italy (well OK, Venice, since Italy didn't exist yet). |
The earliest evidence of personal eating forks I've come across is in [[12th Century]] [[Italy]] (well OK, [[Venice]], since Italy didn't exist yet). |
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Before this time eating utensils were a spoon and a knife. |
Before this time eating utensils were a [[spoon]] and a [[knife]]. |
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However, forks were rather slow to take off. By the [[14th Century]], [[France]] had adopted the fork, but England held off adopting these inventions of the hated foreigners until after the time of [[Henry VIII]]. |
However, forks were rather slow to take off. By the [[14th Century]], [[France]] had adopted the fork, but England held off adopting these inventions of the hated foreigners until after the time of [[Henry VIII]]. |
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In later medieval times, western |
In later [[medieval]] times, western European people primarily used [[two pronged fork]]s. However, three, four, five and even seven-pronged forks are [[extant]]. |
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Since it's rather difficult (and probably non-period) to eat without using your fingers with only a knife and a spoon, a [[serviette]] (or at a pinch a tea towel) is an extremely useful item, as it prevents getting nasty hard to remove grease stains on your [[garb]] from the roast chicken and making the [[hospitaller]] angry (if you borrowed the [[garb]]). |
Since it's rather difficult (and probably [[out of period|non-period]]) to eat without using your fingers with only a knife and a spoon, a [[serviette]] (or at a pinch a tea towel) is an extremely useful item, as it prevents getting nasty hard to remove grease stains on your [[garb]] from the roast [[chicken]] and making the [[hospitaller]] angry (if you borrowed the [[garb]]). |
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Revision as of 17:55, 29 October 2004
Two pronged forks were used in many European cultures (including the English) since before the 12th century (I believe) for the carving of meat. Each family might have one of two such carving forks for use at the table (ie. used only to chop up the meat, didn't get anywhere near anyone's mouth).
The earliest evidence of personal eating forks I've come across is in 12th Century Italy (well OK, Venice, since Italy didn't exist yet). Before this time eating utensils were a spoon and a knife.
However, forks were rather slow to take off. By the 14th Century, France had adopted the fork, but England held off adopting these inventions of the hated foreigners until after the time of Henry VIII.
In later medieval times, western European people primarily used two pronged forks. However, three, four, five and even seven-pronged forks are extant.
Since it's rather difficult (and probably non-period) to eat without using your fingers with only a knife and a spoon, a serviette (or at a pinch a tea towel) is an extremely useful item, as it prevents getting nasty hard to remove grease stains on your garb from the roast chicken and making the hospitaller angry (if you borrowed the garb).
