What is a Sardine Fork?

Leave it to the Victorians to create a special utensil for the purpose of serving sardines and other small, flat fish during a formal dinner. A sardine fork may be a rarity these days, but it was once part of a complete place setting for formal dining. Antique sardine forks are considered very collectible, and no self-respecting Victorian of means would have been 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 also be 5 or 6 tines on a sardine fork, with the outer tines flared 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 present only when long, flat fish such as sardines are on the menu. The design of a typical sardine fork appears to provide enough horizontal support to keep the sardine or other food item stable on the tines until it reaches the consumer's mouth. ...  more