Fork
Utensil with tines for spearing and lifting food.
A fork is a utensil, now usually made of metal, with a long handle terminating in a head that branches into several narrow, often slightly curved tines. It is used to spear foods either to hold them while cutting with a knife or to lift them to the mouth. The fork has a long history, with early examples found in Bronze Age China and Mycenaean Greece, and it became a common table utensil in the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire by the 4th century.
- field
- Cutlery / Kitchenware
- material
- Originally bone, bronze, silver; now usually metal
- region_of_origin
- Multiple: China, Ancient Egypt, Mycenaean Greece, Roman Empire, Byzantine Empire
- known_for
- Personal table fork; four-tine design became current in early 19th century
Lore & Background
A stone carving from an Eastern Han tomb in Ta-kua-liang, Suide County, Shaanxi, depicts three hanging two-pronged forks in a dining scene. In Ancient Egypt, large forks were used as cooking utensils. A bronze fork dating from the 16th century BC was found in a Mycenaean Greek grave. In the Roman Empire, bronze and silver forks were used, many surviving examples displayed in museums across Europe; they were mostly used as cooking and serving utensils.
Reader's Guide
The personal table fork was most likely invented in the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, where it was in common use by the 4th century. By the 9th century, a similar utensil called a barjyn was in limited use in elite circles of Persia, and by the 10th century the table fork was common throughout the Middle East. The fork spread to Italy by the 11th century, aided by ties with the Byzantine Empire and the growing popularity of pasta. It did not become commonly used in Great Britain until the 18th century, and in North America until near the time of the American Revolution. The four-tine design became current in the early 19th century.
Did You Know?
- A bronze fork dating from the 16th century BC was found in a Mycenaean Greek grave.
- Byzantine princess Theophanu caused astonishment at the court of the Holy Roman Empire by using a fork instead of her hands.
- The four-tine fork design became current in the early 19th century.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a fork?
A fork is a table utensil with a long handle ending in a head that splits into several narrow, often slightly curved tines. Its primary job is to spear food so you can hold it while cutting or lift it straight to your mouth.
What materials are forks made from?
Modern forks are almost always metal, but historically they were crafted from bone, bronze, or silver depending on the time period and culture.
Where did the fork originate?
Early fork-like implements have been found in Bronze Age China and Mycenaean Greece, with related designs also appearing in Ancient Egypt and the Roman Empire. It became a standard personal table utensil in the Byzantine (Eastern Roman) Empire by the 4th century.
When did the fork become a common dining tool?
Although proto-forks existed as far back as the Bronze Age, widespread everyday table use really took hold in the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire around the 4th century.
How many tines does a standard fork have, and when did that become the norm?
The familiar four-tine shape we recognize today became the current standard design in the early 19th century. Before that, tine counts varied widely across different cultures and eras.
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