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Gold fork with gems

WB.207     1600–1700 • fork

Curator's Description

Fork; steel shaft and prongs; circular handle covered with open-work design in gold, enamelled and set with rubies, turquoises and emeralds.

This object was collected and bequeathed to the British Museum by Ferdinand Anselm Rothschild.

Made In

Germany ?
German

What is it?

fork

Made Of

steel emerald enamel gold ruby turquoise

Techniques

enamelled

How big is it?

1.3 cm wide, 16.5 cm high, 1.3 cm deep, and it weighs 27.3g

Where is it?

London / The British Museum / Room 2A / Case 5a 25

Floor plan 2 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 6c 6d 6e 6f 6g 6h 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 7f 7g 7h 7i 7j Entrance

Detailed Curatorial Notes

Provenance: None is recorded.

Commentary: The fork is much restored.

Bibliography

  • Charles Hercules Read, 'The Waddesdon Bequest: Catalogue of the Works of Art bequeathed to the British Museum by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, M.P., 1898', London, 1902, no. 207
  • O.M. Dalton, 'The Waddesdon Bequest', 2nd edn (rev), British Museum, London, 1927, no.207.

    • References

    1. Read 1902: Read, Charles Hercules, The Waddesdon Bequest. Catalogue of the Works of Art Bequeathed to the British Museum by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, M.P., 1898, London, BMP, 1902
    2. Dalton 1927: Dalton, Ormonde Maddock, The Waddesdon Bequest : jewels, plate, and other works of art bequeathed by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild., London, BMP, 1927

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