Flatware: 5 Fast Facts

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Fact #1. It is probable that spoons are the oldest of man's eating utensils. This stems from the fact that forks and knives must be fashioned in some manner. However, spoons of some form or another can be found in nature. Items such as seashells and certain shaped stones are examples.
Fact #2. The earliest natural and man made spoons didn't have handles, but even handled versions are significantly older than forks and knives designed for table use. Archaeological evidence points to handled spoons being used in Egyptian religious ceremonies as far back as 1000 BCE.
Fact #3. Knives have been used as weapons and eating tools since prehistoric times. Knives specifically designed for table use came much later. The 1600s marked the beginning of the Bourbon Dynasty in France. This was also the time that knives became domesticated. Before this time, most knives were as sharp as possible because of their dual purpose as weapons. This made them a threat at tables. This was also a period when alcoholic beverages were the primary forms of hydration. It was not uncommon for someone to injure themselves when drunk by stabbing a knife into their mouth while eating.
Fact #4. In the 16th century, forks finally began to see some measure of popularity as an eating utensil. An Italian noblewoman of the time used them regularly when dining. After her marriage to King Henry II of France, the use of forks for dining began to proliferate tables in the country.
Fact #5. More and more people switched to using forks instead of their hands as the concepts of hygiene changed. By the 1700s, forks had become commonplace among the elite. Many carried their own private flatware set. The use of forks spread to the other classes in the first Industrial Revolution.