Small Dutch forks

[silverfan]

What purpose have these small dutch forks marked van Kempen Q = 1926. length 13,5 cm, weight 13 g.
Regards silverfan

[oel]

These forks were used to eat pickles. Pickles forks.

Peter.

[oel]

Pickles fork; fork used to prick onions, gherkins and the like from the tray with pickles on the diner table. The pickles fork has two slightly bent outer teeth and a straight tooth in the middle. There are also steel pickle forks that are much longer and are used to fish pickled gherkins from tall bottles. These have barbed teeth. The pickles fork is sometimes part of the hors d'oeuvre couvert. A pickles fork with a shear mechanism is called a pickles picker.

Source; Het zilverlexicon Janjaap Luijt.

Peter.

[silverfan]

Thanks Peter. Pickle fork sounds better than cake fork because the fork has no cutting edge. In the internet I found now still another purpose: poffertjes fork. Also possible?
Regards silverfan

[oel]

Hi Silverfan, not made by van Kempen.

The maker's mark is; .VH. in "oval"shield for: P. van Heumen, registered in the city of Schoonhoven around 1908- till around 1943. Hence the regional assay office letter M, in the Minerva's helmet, for the city of Schoonhoven. Today you can eat whatever you like with these forks, including poffertjes ( Dutch mini pancakes). Enjoy!


Peter.

[silverfan]

Thanks again Peter. I now spotted that the fork in the middle has a slightly different pattern and is marked only with the sword mark withhout purity figures. So most probably made by another silversmith.
Regards silverfan

[oel]

Your welcome. Normally the sword mark is seen in combination with a maker's mark. Perhaps if you inspect the fork closely you might find a maker's mark.

Peter.