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The Date of the fork's invention is unknown, but archeological sites have seen forks, leading them to believe they were around during the Bronze Age, but they do not resemble modern forks.
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The table fork was invented most likely by the eastern Romans and would be commonly used by the century. The table fork was the start of the evolution of the fork, its original design is still held true today with its small size and protruding prongs. -
In the 10th and 11th centuries, forks made their way to Italy, and as hard as it is to believe, Italians weren't always eating pasta with a fork. By the fork getting into more hands in places like Italy, it would make it possible to have a wider spread of the item and allow for the design to be improved. -
St. Peter Damien urges people who follow the church to not use forks due to them being "excessive delicacy" and that god gave you forks (Your hands). -
In 1533, forks were brought to France after Catherine de Medicis married future King Henry II. The process to accept the fork was as slow as in many other places. By France getting the fork they allowed for it to be taken to England. This may seem like a small change, but England had the best chance of being able to mass produce the utensil. -
Thomas Coryate during the end of his first voyage brought back forks from Italy. -
In the 17th century, it became apparent that the two-pronged fork was great for spearing food but very aggravating to scoop the food. The idea was passed around that by adding an additional prong this could be improved and they were right. -
Forks were subject to much controversy through much of the early centuries, but it was in 1700 when the court ruled by Ferdinand IV of Bourbon said that it was okay to eat with one.
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In 1700 the court decided it would be okay to use forks at the dining table and so when the three-pronged fork was invented not but a short time after was the four-pronged. They all had their own uses and could be altered and sold for specific tasks. -
Although forks bad been in England for much time they weren't even in America until some time after the American Revolution.
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during the 1800s forks were less for the rich and more for anybody who ate food. Getting unique silverware was the new craze for the rich. -
Spearing was the main use of this silverware, but many were unhappy with the ability to scoop their food. The addition of the third prong was meant to aid this, but it could only help so much. The idea to curve the prongs proved to be the best option and is even used in today's production.
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During the 1860s, England began to mass-produce silverware, including forks. All of this was silver, hence the name. Mass production allowed more lower-class people to buy the fork and allowed more changes to be made to the design. -
Forks had finally become widely available in the 1860s so within only 40 years, they had overtaken the other dining utensils by their sheer convenience. No more would you have to eat things with your hands. With the fork becoming so popular, the ideas of improving the product increased, paving the way for the industrial manufacturing of forks we see today, and you use every day. -
The industry was growing, and the production of steel was becoming quick and cheap, so in 1913, a British man named Harry Brearley discovered stainless steel. This opened a whole new avenue of affordable and mass-produced silverware. Having a mass produced sturdy fork was great since a silver fork could degrade, bend, or just overall bend. This was revolutionary when it came to a household set of forks. -
Plastic utensils were made in the 1940s but wouldn't be mass-produced until the 50s. Similar to how mass producing stainless steel and silver utensils this just puts more forks in more people's hands. Having a disposable fork also allowed for it to be more versatile. It didn't have much value so it really could be used for anything without the worry of ruining it.