1977.216.2201.1: Fork
Tools and EquipmentIdentification and Creation
- Object Number
- 1977.216.2201.1
- Title
- Fork
- Classification
- Tools and Equipment
- Work Type
- fork
- Date
- 1st-4th century CE or later
- Places
- Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Europe, Rome (Latium)
- Period
- Roman Imperial period
- Culture
- Roman
- Persistent Link
- https://hvrd.art/o/287344
Physical Descriptions
- Medium
- Bronze
- Technique
- Cast
- Dimensions
- 14.7 x 1.6 cm (5 13/16 x 5/8 in.)
- Technical Details
-
Technical Observations: The patina is grayish brown, and the object is well preserved; it is not clear if it is ancient. The fork bears a stamp, “A,” on the underside above the tines. It was made by casting the rough shape and then working to further shape the fork and to finish the surface.
Carol Snow (submitted 2002)
Provenance
- Recorded Ownership History
- "From Rome" according to Classical Collection index card; received as a gift of H.W. Bell on Feb. 2, 1911.
Acquisition and Rights
- Credit Line
- Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Transfer from the Department of the Classics, Harvard University, Gift of H. W. Bell
- Accession Year
- 1977
- Object Number
- 1977.216.2201.1
- Division
- Asian and Mediterranean Art
- Contact
- am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
- Permissions
-
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Descriptions
Published Catalogue Text: Ancient Mediterranean and Near Eastern Bronzes at the Harvard Art Museums
This fork has three sharp tines and an elaborately modeled handle. On the back above the middle tine, the letter “A” is stamped. This fork may not be ancient, although forks do occur in other ancient collections (1).
NOTES:
1. Compare G. Zampieri and B. Lavarone, eds., Bronzi antichi del Museo Archaeologico di Padova, exh. cat., Museo Archeologico Padova (Rome, 2000) 204-205, nos. 408.a-f; and S. Boucher and S. Tassinari, Bronzes antiques du Musée de la Civilisation Gallo-Romaine a Lyon 1: Inscriptions, statuaire, vaisselle (Lyon, 1976) 155, no. 205. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, has a copper alloy fork, inv. no. 47.107.1, of similar shape to the Harvard forks, although it has four tines and all of the Harvard forks have only three; see also an example at the Walters Art Museum, Baltimore, inv. no. 54.1447; and one in the Rhode Island School of Design, Museum of Art, Providence, inv. no. 07.149.
David Smart
Subjects and Contexts
- Roman Domestic Art
- Ancient Bronzes
Related Works
Verification Level
This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu