Galt House Pickle Fork, c. 1900

The pickle fork as an established piece of silverware dates to the mid 1800s, when Victorian-era sensibilities dictated that touching one’s food was improper. Originally, pickle forks would rest gently at the edge of hors d’oeuvres or relish trays, but the introduction of pickle jars towards the turn of the century necessitated longer handles. By the early 1900s, it was common to find both short and long-handled pickle forks in sets of cutlery. While the pickle fork was of course closely associated with pickle slices or gherkins, this utensil was undoubtedly used to skewer a plethora of small bites such as olives, peppers, tomatoes, or anything else you might find in an antipasto or charcuterie spread.

The historic Galt House hotel first opened in 1835 and then again in 1869 after a fire burned down the original building. The second Galt House existed until 1919, likely the period in which pickle forks such as this one were in use. The handle is stamped with “Galt House”, which indicates it belonged to the official hotel silverware and helps us visualize the standard flatware of one of Louisville’s most famous hotels.