6 x Early 4-pronged Table Forks, 1771

Silver forks with four prongs first started to appear in the 1770's, so this is a very early set of six table forks. They were developed at the transition time between the dominant Hanoverian pattern and the newly fashionable Old English pattern.

Old English pattern is distinguished from Hanoverian because the tips of spoon handles turn down as opposed to previously turning up. However forks continued to turn up because it is more comfortable in the hand, so these forks could be considered to be from either pattern.

A further diagnostic feature of early 4-pronged forks are their rounded tines, unlike the later flat topped versions. Furthermore, the giveaway bottom-struck hallmarks (i.e. towards the tines) easily identify them as early examples (forks were top-marked from 1781).

This set of six Georgian silver dinner forks are in fine condition and the full and pretty much equal length tines are a real bonus because most forks have suffered significant wear after 250 years of use. The reverse terminals are engraved with a monogram in an early version of the script style that was fashionable during the George III period.

The forks were made by the important specialist spoonmaker of the mid-Georgian period Thomas Chawner - the apprentices tutored by this maker and in turn their apprentices too, went on to dominate flatware production for the next century. A great set of forks.