16th C. “French Fashion Spoons”

“Trefids are termed ‘the French Fashion Spoons’, and the style spread very quickly throughout the United Kingdom; in part due to the British people who took their old spoons to the silversmiths to have them melted and made into the new trefid style - that is if they could afford it.” – Image source, the Etiquipedia Library

 

“In the 16th century, people typically had one spoon which was used at all mealtimes, being washed between uses. It was also deemed as a sign of class and status if the spoon was made from anything other than wood.  It is suggested that silver spoons came to Britain with the Romans, however, the Trefid spoon originated in France; the French call it ‘Pied de Biche’ which translated means Deer’s foot. 

“It is said that – while in court in France – Charles II noticed they used a specific type of spoon called the trefid, and it was through Charles II that trefid spoons were introduced to Britain in 1660. Trefids are termed ‘the French Fashion Spoons’, and the style spread very quickly throughout the United Kingdom; in part due to the British people who took their old spoons to the silversmiths to have them melted and made into the new trefid style – that is if they could afford it.”– From the blog.acsilver.co.uk

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia