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Sardine forks were once a part of formal dining settings, designed with shorter tines and multiple prongs for stability. They are now rare and collectible, but can still be custom-ordered from select cutlery manufacturers.
Leave it to the Victorians to create a special utensil for the purpose of serving sardines and other small flatfish at a formal dinner. A sardine fork may be a rarity these days, but it was once part of a complete formal dining setting. Antique sardine forks are considered very collectable and no self-respecting half Victorian would be caught without one.
A sardine fork is designed differently from other serving forks. The tines are noticeably shorter than traditional meat or salad forks, for one thing. There may be as many as 5 or 6 prongs on this wishbone, with the outer prongs flaring outward to suggest a trident or other royal scepter. Other fish forks may be used to serve a fish dish, but a sardine fork is generally presented only when long, flat fish such as sardines are on the menu.
The design appears to provide enough horizontal support to keep the sardine or other foodstuff stable on the teeth until it reaches the consumer’s mouth. Without the benefit of a flat fork with numerous teeth, sardines could bend and fall apart under their own weight. This would prove to be very problematic during a formal dinner. The Victorian philosophy of designing a proper tool to do a proper job most likely encouraged the development of a sardine fork for just such occasions.
However, a sardine fork doesn’t always have curved outer teeth or multiple teeth. There are three-pronged versions of the fork and others that strongly resemble a comb or hair rake. Silver is a popular material used to create formal versions, but forks carved from bone or wood are not uncommon.
Most likely due to the waning popularity of fresh sardines as a side dish or appetizer, the sardine fork has largely been replaced by other fish or meat forks in most formal cutlery collections. These forks can still be custom-ordered from select cutlery manufacturers, however.
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