09 November 2010

A third-century Roman multitool

From the collections of the Fitzwilliam Museum, an "eating implement" from A.D. 200-300 that combines a "three-pronged fork, spatula, pick, spike and knife."  Such "folding spoons" were apparently well-known to historians, but I had never heard of such things.  You learn something every day.

Fitzwilliam Museum link, via Neatorama.
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3 comments:

  1. PeteNovember 9, 2010 at 1:59 PM

    Your last sentence is especially true for me, when I make a point to visit your blog!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousNovember 13, 2010 at 4:41 PM

    There are a number of examples of these and other multitools throughout history. One particularly fun one was a medieval manicure set featuring tweezers, small knife blade and a tiny spoon/scoop for earwax!

    ReplyDelete
  3. MinnesotastanNovember 13, 2010 at 6:03 PM

    Interestingly, anon, I apparently blogged a tool similar to the one you mentioned over two years ago. I had totally forgotten about it.

    http://tywkiwdbi.blogspot.com/2008/05/combination-toothpick-and-earway-scoop.html


    I should reread my own blog sometime...

    ReplyDelete

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