What-is-it question CLIV.

Post by **2209patrick** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:06 pm

These silverplated pieces were made by Christofle roughly between 1893 and 1918.
They measure 5.6 inches ( 14.2 cm. ) in length.

What are they called ?

Pat.
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Post by **2209patrick** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 1:10 pm

Here is another style made by Charles Murat, Paris, c.1900.
Dutch examples of these are more elaborate in style.

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chase33 · Post by **chase33** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 8:45 pm

Are they corn cob holders?
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Post by **2209patrick** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:03 pm

Welcome to the forum chase33.

No, they are not corn cob holders, but you have the right idea.

Pat.
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Bahner · Post by **Bahner** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:47 am

Hello, how about potatoe holder ? Best wishes, Bahner
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Post by **2209patrick** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 7:48 am

Hi Bahner.

A potato holder is a good idea, but Christofle's 1883 catalog says these were meant to hold something else.

Not sure if Germany is warm enough to grow these.
Like the United States, you probably have to import this fruit.

It just dawned on me that by having two examples in the first picture I may have implied this piece is attached to both ends of what is held.
This is not the case. These are used individually.

Pat.
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Post by **dognose** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 8:02 am

Hi All,

Now I'm really curious, I felt sure the answer would be a potato fork. Qrt.S posted some examples in this topic.

http://www.925-1000.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15907" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

It would appear the French had an entirely different use.

Regards Trev.
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Post by **2209patrick** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 8:53 am

Hello everyone.

Looks like we have another question here with more than one correct answer.
These very likely were also used as potato holders as Bahner said and shown in Trev's link.

The term I'm looking for is not well known in the United States either.
Will wait just a little longer before giving the name.

Pat.
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Post by **2209patrick** » Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:36 am

Christofle called these " Mango forks"
My source is David Alllan's "French Silver Cutlery of the XIXth Century".

http://www.news-antique.com/?id=786531" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.yucatanliving.com/daily-life ... -style.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pat.
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Qrt.S · Post by **Qrt.S** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:13 pm

Mango forks??? I have my doubts about that. The first photo with the two forks might be that but the second photo shows undoubtedly a potato fork as Bahner already mentioned. The potato fork is very well known in Finland, Russia, the baltic states, Poland and Germany but not in other countries. Here is a picture of one. It measures close to 8 inches.

http://a.imagehost.org/view/0660/Peruna2" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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