Actually I’m without a sounded clue on this 3 prongs fork
Hello
It’s difficult to give you yet a sounded clue. I’m in this case like you — I’ve also more questions then answers.
In »Modern time« of mankind, at least since Leifur EirÃksson, exist the problem of »
souvenirs«
and their origin — it seems to me clear, that your 3-prongs fork
isn’t British?
In past time it wasn’t usual to use forks — this came up in
Italy.
I think, for that reason, the South-North-Corridor of forks is maybe a few hundred kilometres wide only.
I imagine that the fork is made in the period of
1650 to
1750.
But in that period, in many European countries and regions are most times
already more then two punches in use; at least e.g. a
national or
town mark, a
tax mark, and
maker’s mark.
So, which countries and regions remain over, which hasn’t had more then two punches in use?
Well, of course
France itself
before tax regulations, and their punches = until 1672. In 1679 the dimensions of town marks were fixed in France: 4.5 mm height, 3 mm wide.
Towns and regions
East of France — from the
Northern Sea until Italy:
That could be especially towns of prosperous economy, or capitals of duchies, and capitals of bishoprics.
In
Flanders, the town marks are changed in their design in differing periods. For the area of
The Netherlands must be hold in mind the
additional date letter punch
(maybe not on little items?).
An interesting report from Christophe Ginter, on a 3-prongs fork, made between 1660 and 1667 in bishops town Autun, Burgundy:
http://www.ascasonline.org/articoloOTTOB118ING.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Well, Burgundy is one of the cultural areas, where it was possible to introduce forks — 3-prongs forks.
The eldest one in my collection is a
2-prongs fork from
Augsburg 1635-1655.
A part of Flanders of that time of the 3-prongs fork was governed by Spanish Habsburg, then after by Austrian Habsburg.
Its maybe interesting to, that during an archaeological research, begin of this century in the area of the
Old Cathedral and
Bishops Palace of
Cádiz, Spain was also found a
silver 3-prongs fork from
mid XVII century.
But the Cádiz one is
not so smooth worked out as your fork.
This fork, seems to me,
is made from a well experienced cutlery maker. Italy?
But what says the possible town mark itself?
(Shown photo must for interpretation be placed 90 º clockwise.)
It seems to me that the cartouche is of a very complex shield form; here visible is only the left part of the right half.
I “see” in the middle a kind of a
tower, with a
base entrance and
first floor window =
maybe the tower is a
town’s port with a
broad entrance, and
two windows on first floor?
Right side is a
Roman cipher I,
or a
letter I? But what is then as equivalent on left side of the tower? If it is a Spanish fork, maybe a Roman cipher X = together an indication of »XI dinero« fineness = 916.6-1,000.
It’s not a Portuguese fork = neither of the Portuguese town marks is equal; also only very few used some times architectural items in their mark. Fineness marks were separately.
Makers mark seems to be the singular capital antique letter
B in a top flat shield cartouche.
It was in the time in question often usual, to place only the first letter of a name; most times that from the family’s name. These marks signification was only, to have an indication of the maker, in case of an actual fraud.
»925-1000« and collectors curiosity’ was unknown.
Kind regards silverport
.
