Fork

Object Name:

Fork

Object ID:

1946.018.25.2

Place of Origin:

Munich, Germany (Bavaria)

Date:

circa 1789

Description:

Fork. Silver. Pattern later standardized as "French Thread," with flat handle shank broadening to spatulate, slightly upturned end. Four tines. Threaded outline on both surfaces of handle, and extending onto heel of tined portion, as drop. "Emma Rumford" engraved in script on reverse of handle, followed by Maltese cross. Two impressed marks on reverse, one on either side of drop: human figure (possibly angel) with raised arms having figure "8" and "9" on either side, all within irregularly shaped mark; and "I / IP" within trefoil; marks being inspection and maker's marks respectively.

Material:

Metal
Silver

Dimensions:

W-1 L-7.25 inches

Provenance:

Part of The Edwin G. Burgum (1858-1948) Collection, donated by collector's son, Edwin Berry Burgum.Spoon engraved "Emma Rumford" (1826-1923); Emma was the mother of Edwin G. Burgum, and was the adopted daughter of Sarah Thompson (1774-1852), Countess Rumford. Fork probably originally belonged to Benjamin Thompson, Count Rumford (1753-1814), who spent the years 1772-4 in Concord, NH, but was living in Munich c. 1789. The spoon was probably marked "Emma Rumford" in 1838, when Countess Rumford was planning to send her 12-year-old adopted daughter, Emma, to a French convent (see notes).

Credit Line:

The Edwin G. Burgum Collection

People:

Rumford, Emma (1826-1923), Burgum, Edwin Gannell (1858-1948), Burgum, Emma (1826-1923), Gannell, Emma (1826-1923), Rumford, Countess, Thompson, Benjamin (1753-1814), Thompson, Sarah (1774-1852)