Rare Georgian Silver Fork with Cutting Tine, 1842

This is an unusual Victorian silver fork with four prongs and an outer cutting tine which presumably was meant for tarts, pastries and cakes.

Made by the spoonmaker Charles Boyton, the fork is in the fiddle pattern and benefits from having neither engravings nor erasures. Pastry forks did not become fashionable until the 1920's and were sold in sets of six, so this is a rare, early example that is in excellent condition.