Fork

Item number C560 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

Public

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Data
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Description

A dark brown wood fork that has three medium-sized cylindrical prongs. The octagonal handle tapers at both ends and has a toothed and scalloped edging design around the upper and the lower ends.

History Of Use

According to Frank Burnett, this type of fork was called a cannibal fork, used at cannibal feasts, along with special plates (see C498-99). "All other food was eaten with the fingers, but as the touching of a dead body rendered a person tabu for a time, the necessity for a fork arose."

Narrative

Burnett listed this item as coming from Father Palmer's collection. Burnett described Palmer as "one of the earliest R.C. [Roman Catholic] Missionaries to Fiji".