What type of Watson Lily fork is it?

White woman speak with forked fork..........

 

As already suggested, it was most likely sold as small beef fork, used to serve sliced meat...

~Cheryl

 

That's an interesting link.
However, the lobster fork is not there. It says to see oyster fork, and that looks more like a shrimp cocktail fork.

A lobster fork has spiked tines, as does the one shown by the OP.

 

Beef forks are typically fairly small serving pieces with four (occasionally three) tines, the outer tines flared - I don't have any Watson catalogs, so unable to show that particular design, but below is a page from Osterberg's 'Sterling Silver Flatware for Dining Elegance' (1994), along with some old catalog clips.




1901 - Beef Fork, small:


1916 - Smoked Beef Fork:


1917 - Chipped Beef or Bacon Fork:

1917 - Beef Fork:



~Cheryl

 

@DragonflyWink
Are there any pictures of Lobster forks? Maybe on the fish fork page.

Notice all the meat fork tines go straight or curve outward. The OP's fork has hooks turned inward.

 

Can't say I recall seeing lobster forks as serving pieces, they're not particularly common (seafood fork kind of covers it), but are longish slender place pieces, and there are the long lobster picks, with two tiny tines/prongs, sometimes including a rendition of the critter as part of the design.

While the same pieces are sometimes found in catalogs and ads described for different uses, this fork was almost certainly sold as a beef fork - personally, I see those center tines as wide and straight, curved sides tapering to a point, like on the center tine of the one in my last clip or at top right on the Osterberg page. There are always going to be variations in style by manufacturer and pattern, but if reliable reference isn't available showing the same item, then you go by its size and general characteristics.

Here is a beef fork from a 1905 publication that differs from the others shown, with outer tines that appear to curve in, but are essentially straight:




The OP's fork:


~Cheryl

 

From 1905 and 1906:





~Cheryl

 

@DragonflyWink
Thanks Cheryl.

 

IDK, in looking at the fork, there are two smallish center tines that look like they're for shoveling (getting under) and then two outer tines with hooks maybe meant to grab what you shoveled up. So my mind went to some kind of shellfish.

Wish we could find a catalog from the manufacturer. I checked the Flatware Fashions web site, but nada there. There were just so many specific pieces back in the day. I guess the OP will have to sell this one to someone who has it all, except this fork.

I found a Bird Fork in my pattern once. Took me forever to figure it out since previous generations ate all the Passenger Pigeons. But it was a fun search expedition.

 

The two center tines look as if they are meant to pinion the whatsit down, while the outer sides with the hooks then hold it on the fork while transportation takes place from server to plate. Something slithery. Served whole. Or in large pieces. Baked apple?

 

https://www.onekingslane.com/live-love-home/flatware-guide/

I think it looks well suited to be a pâté fork.

 

How about if you just send it to me, and I'll just press it into service and thereby determine proper usages.

 

LOL. Just look it up on my store and for a small fee, I can make that happen.

And Thank You All for the many responses. You all rock