What-is-it question CVIII.

What was this used for? - PHOTO REQUIRED
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2209patrick
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What-is-it question CVIII.

Post by 2209patrick »

These pieces of flatware were designed by Joseph Hoffmann of Vienna Austria (1904-08). Made by Wierner Werkstatte.
The pastry serving spoon on the right is 6.9 inches (17.3 cm.) long.

What did they call the two pieces on the left?

Image

Pat.
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2209patrick
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Post by 2209patrick »

Here's a clue:
They were intended to be used on different sea foods.
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dragonflywink
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Post by dragonflywink »

Well, I know it's the Flat Model pattern, but have never seen those pieces before (love the classic Hoffmann grid on the pierced piece). The first appears to be perhaps a lobster pick, and the second, ummm, maybe a sardine server?

~Cheryl
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2209patrick
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Post by 2209patrick »

Hi Cheryl.

Well done, and it is the Flat Model pattern.
Seems these pieces generated some controversy back then.
One critic compared them to "anatomical tools". Personally, I like the style.

The book calls them a crab fork and a sardine server.

Pat.
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dragonflywink
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Post by dragonflywink »

Ahhh, a crab fork - guess it is a bit short for a lobster pick. I like it too, but I've had a weakness for modern design since childhood (the only 8 year old girl in the neighborhood who craved a Scandinavian teak bedroom set instead of the dreadful white & gold "French Provincial"). Can imagine how shocking this pattern was at the time of introduction.

~Cheryl
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2209patrick
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Post by 2209patrick »

Well... you can tell I don't get out to the east coast very often.
I was thinking a lobster and crab were the same thing.
In my defense, we don't see many of these critters in the mid-west :)

Pat.
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dragonflywink
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Post by dragonflywink »

Nonsense, can remember my friends trapping lobsters in the Fox River - well, okay, maybe they were crawdads.....;-) Never could stand mud between my toes, usually stayed onshore, catching bluegills and pumpkinseeds with my cane pole, life was so simple then.

~Cheryl
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