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What-is-it question CLIV.

Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:06 pm
by 2209patrick
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 ?

Image

Pat.
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Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 1:10 pm
by 2209patrick
Here is another style made by Charles Murat, Paris, c.1900.
Dutch examples of these are more elaborate in style.

Image
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Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 8:45 pm
by chase33
Are they corn cob holders?
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Posted: Sat Jun 06, 2009 10:03 pm
by 2209patrick
Welcome to the forum chase33.

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

Pat.
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Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 4:47 am
by Bahner
Hello, how about potatoe holder ? Best wishes, Bahner
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Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 7:48 am
by 2209patrick
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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Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 8:02 am
by dognose
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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Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 8:53 am
by 2209patrick
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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Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 10:36 am
by 2209patrick
Christofle called these " Mango forks"
My source is David Alllan's "French Silver Cutlery of the XIXth Century".

Image

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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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:13 pm
by Qrt.S
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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