Would you believe that before the "discovery" of using forks, most people in England and the Americans in the 18th century used their knife to lift food to their mouth?
Queer, but it took a Turkish princess to introduce the use of fork, when she married a Venetian chief magistrate and brought to Venice her set of golden table fork.
The Venetian society circle opposed. "God has provided man with natural fork, which are his fingers!"
The other critics argued, 'The princess' forks are luxurious beyond belief."
An English writer, Thomas Coryate, brought forks from Italy and was claimed to be the first Englishman to eat with a fork. (1611)
"Qne day you each will have a fork. Mark my words!" he prophesized.
The Victorians, to keep their fingers from touching food, accepted the use of bread forks. It was used to transfer bread from the platter to individual plates.
In England, Ireland and Germany, bread knives were used instead of forks. Finally, the royal families demanded the manufacturers to produce a set of silverware. Forks found its place among 140 different pieces, among them were spoons, teaspoons, soup ladle, tongs, knives and clamps.
The first sets were gold and silver and electroplating started in 1840. It was a method using electrolysis to coat metal objects with pure silver.
We've been exposed to several toothpaste advertisement with "toothsome smiling" models. Do you know that toothpaste did not originally come in from a tube? Ceramic containers were used at the turn of the century. It came out in white and with lithographic transfer prints to apply the manufacturer's name. Of course, each kind has its own logo. The
lids were decorative with classic designs. The invention of toothpaste tubes is indeed a great step for handy and sanitary purpose.
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