This linkspage lists examples of knives, forks, and cutlery sets from before the 17th century, as well as sheaths and containers made for such sets. Some of these were used for individual place-settings; more often, these were carving-sets, and in some cases (where noted), for hunting.
(Were there forks in the Middle Ages? Sure; you’ll many examples below. In some cases, these were small “sucket forks,” used to serve sweetmeats [as, for example, the “silvir forke for grene gyngor” in the 1463 will of John Baret of Bury]; in others, they are larger utensils used as part of a carving set. They do not appear to have seen widespread use as a table utensil in its modern context until later, though. For more on the history of the fork in particular, see A History of the Table Fork or Table Forks of the Medieval & Renaissance Period.)
- Two-tined silver fork, Greco-Roman era; found in Susa, Iran
- Two-tined silver fork with animal-hoof finial, Byzantium or Syria, 4th century
- Two-tined silver fork with mule-head finial, Rome, c. 375-425
- Two-tined bronze fork, 8th-11th century; found in Susa, Iran
- Two-tined bronze fork, 8th-11th century; found in Susa, Iran
- Small knife found on the banks of the Thames, inscribed 'OSMHND', c. 1000
Some cutlers in the Mendel Hausbuch:
Tuldner (c. 1425),
Peter Messerer (c. 1425),
Schreder (1447),
Wenczel Messerer (1472),
Linhart Lebenbrüst (1476),
Hans Gerber (1501),
Hai(n)rich Werrer (1539),
Hans Schrötter (1549),
Conradt Zeylner (1564),
Adam Jung (1565),
Wolff Harttman (1566),
Hainrich Gareissen (1566),
Jorg Pauer (1567),
Hans Zelner (1568),
Hans Prechtell (1572),
Steffan Fenitzer (1575),
Michel Mainberger (1576),
Marx Lentzler (1581),
Abel Gast (1597),
Hans Kremer (1598)
Some cutlers in the Landauer Hausbuch:
Niclas Pruckner (1523),
Wilhelm Betz (1541),
Herman Putz (1542),
Steffan Essabeck (1543),
Niclas Reckh (1564),
Jorg Holfelder (1586),
Görg Mueling (1599),
Wolff Ruger (1601)
The Knife-Smith in Das Ständebuch, 1568
- Knife with a crystal pommel and enamel, inscribed "AVE MARIA - GRACIA PLENA," Spain, c. 1300-1350
- Steel knife with ivory handle, Venice, 14th century
- A set of knives with sheath, Dijon or Paris, c. 1385-1404
- Bone knife-handle: A woman holding a book, 15th century
- A knife from Kempten, 15th century
- A knife from Kempten, 15th century
- A carving-knife with sheath, 15th century
- Knife-handle with niello decoration, 15th century
- Pair of knives with case, Burgundy (?), c. 1400-1450
- Carving knives with the arms of Spain, 15th century; the two knives on the left belonged to Philip the Good
- Set of three knives with a sheath, second half of the 15th century
- Hunting-knife and sharpener in sheath made for Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, c. 1450-1500
Itm j yeve and beqwethe to Davn John Kertelynge, my silvir forke for grene gyngor …
Itm to Maister Bertilmew my iij. newe knyves entyrmewsyd with silvir, ther in wretyn Grace me governe …
Itm to Jankyn Aylleward iij. old kervyng knywes with white shaftes harneysid with silvir. The will of John Baret of Bury, 1463
- A sucket-fork rests on a table by a footed bowl in a detail from The Annunciation from a Viennese altarpiece, c. 1460-1470
- Detail with a sheath holding several hunting-knives in the Crucifixion on the Schotten Altar, 1469-1480
- Cutlery set, including three knives, a fork, and a skewer, made in late 15th century Germany
- Serving knife (presentoir?) and another serving knife, Austria, 15th-16th century; handles are brass with bone and mother-of-pearl
- Sweetmeat fork in silver and silver-gilt, with rock crystal handle, Upper Rhineland, c. 1500
- Sapi-Portuguese ivory fork, 16th century
- A set of cutlery made in Germany (?) in the 16th century; includes three presentoirs, a knife, and a fork
- A knife made in Germany in the 16th century
- A knife with gilding and engraving made in Germany in the 16th century
- Fork with ivory handle, Germany, 16th century
- Knife with carved ivory handle of Cleopatra's suicide, 16th century
- Ivory knife-handle with the personification of Charity, 16th century France
- A set with a fork, three knives, and a sheath, France, 16th century
- Huntsman's set: three forks, two knives, and a sheath, France or Italy, 16th century
- Silver fork, Naples, 16th century
- Presentoir, 16th century Italy
- Presentoir, 16th century Germany
- Leather sheath for a set of knives with an armorial design, 16th century
- Knife with a dragon's head on the handle, Flanders, 16th century
- Early 16th century knives excavated in London: V&A M.41-1954
(made in Flanders), 902-1902, M.73-1955
- A fork, The Tudor Pattern Book (Ashmole 1504, fol. 5v), c. 1520-1530
- Knife, made in England c. 1525
- Knife and fork-handle, Germany or France, c. 1530-1580
- Knife with jade handle inlaid with gold and set with gems, Turkey, mid-16th century
- Notation serving-knife engraved with musical notes and blessings to be said before the meal, made in Italy, c. 1550
- Table-knife with ivory handle, second half of the 16th century
- Cutlery set: knife, fork, and skewer with case, made in France, c. 1550-1600
- Knife and fork with gilt-silver handles, Nuremburg, 1551-1600
- Cutlery set with case in engraved steel and ivory: a fork and twelve knives, Germany, c. 1560, V&A 2165 to M-1855
I observed a custome in all those Italian Cities and Townes through the which I passed, that is not used in any other country that I saw in my travels, neither doe I thinke that any other nation of Christendome doth use it, but only Italy. The Italian and also most strangers that are commorant in Italy, doe alwaies at their meales use a little forke when they cut their meat. For while with their knife which they hold in one hand they cut the meate out of the dish, they fasten their forke which they hold in their other hand upon the same dish, so that whatsoever he be that sitting in the company of any others at meale, should unadvisedly ouch the dish of meate with his fingers from which all at the table doe cut, he will give occasion of offence unto the company, as having transgressed the lawes of good manners, in so much that for his error he shall be at the least brow-beaten, if not reprehended in wordes. This forme of feeding I understand is generally used in all places of Italy, their forkes being for the most part made of yron or steele, and some of silver, but those are used only by Gentlemen. The reason of this their curiosity is, because the Italian cannot by any means indure to have his dish touched with fingers, seing all mens fingers are not alike cleane. Hereupon I my selfe thought good to imitate the Italian fashion by this forked cutting of meate, not only while I was in taly, but also in Germany, and oftentimes in England since I came home: being once quipped for that frequent using of my forke, by a certain learned Gentleman, a familiar friend of mine, one M. Laurence Whitaker, who in his merry humour doubted not to call me at table furcifer, only for using a forke at feeding, but for no other cause. Thomas Coryat, Coryat's Crudities (Observations of Lombardy), 1611
- Brass knife-handle with a bagpipe-player, Netherlands? c. 1560-1570
- Pair of ivory-handled table-knives with leather sheath, Netherlands, 1562
- Knife with a silver handle decorated with a quiver, arrows, and bows, fourth quarter of the 16th century
- Crystal-handled knife and fork with sheath, late 16th century
- Knife dredged from the River Thames, made in the late 16th century
Sporks? A sucket fork with a spoon-bowl that attaches over the tines; these appear (in materials suggesting they were a luxury item) in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.
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- Knife-handle with the Virtues (Charity, Temperance, Prudence, and Patience), c. 1580 (the knife-blade is from the 19th century)
- Knife and fork, with engraved brass handles set with mother-of-pearl and beads, France, c. 1580-1620
- Two knives and a leather case, 1581
- A leather case for knives, Germany, 1582
- Table-knives with the monogram of Diane de France, c. 1582-1619
- Knife with a mother-of-pearl handle, France, 1586
- Knife and fork, Netherlands, 1590-1600
- Knife with an ivory handle depicting Mars, and a wooden sheath with the story of Joseph, Flanders, 16th century
- Knife and fork with wooden sheath, ivory handles depicting pairs of children; Flanders, 1595
- A golden fork with a coral handle, c. 1590-1610
- A fork, 16th-17th century
- Pair of wedding knives, the handles damascened in gold and silver and set with amber; linen case embroidered in silk and silver-gilt thread; England, c. 1600-1625
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