Boulton & Fothergill Table Fork, 1775

The Birmingham assay office first opened in 1773 with Matthew Boulton as the main instigator. This silver table fork was made by Boulton in partnership with John Fothergill and is clearly stamped for 1775 - the third year of the assay office.

This hefty fork has the King's pattern shape with a decorated reed & ribbon border - presumably copied from French flatware which was already using this shape, whereas the King's pattern in England did not appear until the first decade of the 19th century.

A further sign of the high quality is the engraved crest to the reverse terminal which is surmounted by an earl's coronet. Overall the condition of this fork is fine, although there is a touch of wear to the crest and to the decoration at the tip of the front terminal and the tines, although long, are slightly uneven with typical knife scratches to the reverse side.