Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.
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| Pewter Fork or Knife Handle from Treasure Coast Beach. |
With time you accumulate more knowledge and often better tools. As a result, it can be worth going back and reinspecting metal detector finds that you long ago put away. The added knowledge combined with better tools can lead to new discoveries.
Above is shown is old Treasure Coast shipwreck beach find. It has been identified as an early pewter fork or knife handle. The pewter handle is hollow and would have been over plaster or wood.
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| Forks Photographed at the Queen's Jewels LLC Conservation Lab Several Years Ago. See The Treasure Beaches Report Direct From Florida's Treasure Coast.: 10/18/16 Report - BIG SURF Coming. Ferdinand VII Reale Find. Silver Sea Salvaged Forks. Pewter Fork Handle. |
While numerous fork parts have been found on Treasure Coast wrecks, I have not been able to find a picture of a pewter handle cover anything like the one at the top of the post. Two are listed in the PAS database, but, unfortunately, neither is accompanied by a photo. It seems this artifact is a rarity, and I'd love to see any photos of anything like it.
The following excerpts are from Nishimura and Quieroz in Material culture and food: The evolution of tableware and the consolidation of behaviors during the mealtime.
The forks shown remains shown in the above photo are badly deteriorated. They seem to have slim handles - perhaps too slim for easy handling with anything other than condiments.
Only in the 17th century, the dominant classes introduced the practice of eating with their own
cutlery and individual plates, and fork began to be used together with knife, which continues to
be the main utensil, handled with the right hand. Individualism than began to be marked by a
set of utensils arranged at an absolutely regular distance from the table neighbors.13
In the late 17th century, cutlery cases with spoons, forks and knives appeared. Large scale
production of cutlery in England after 1650 played a key role in improving the table manners.17
But only in the early 18th century, multiple cutlery sets began to be produced and, according to
Goldsmith,14 silver cutlery began to become popular in Europe for those who could afford it...
Even today, the table setting, i.e. the place of the utensils on the table, reflects symbologies
inherited over the centuries. Knife blades facing the plate comes from the Middle Age. The
intention of the host is to show that he is unarmed, in a sign of trust and peace to the guests.
Another aspect that reminds the times of violence at the table is the rest position of the cutlery.
Not gesturing with the fork or knife at the hand and lowering the knife when not using it was
associated with good manners.
The fact that the fork is hold with the left hand and the knife with the right hand comes from
the times of King Louis XIV of France. The order remains to this day because all etiquette rules
were designed for right-handed people due to discrimination against the left-handers.23 Cutlery
should always rest and left on the plate – not on the table - because the introduction of individual
forks and napkins raised hygiene and cleanness standards at the mealtime, and any stain outside
the food area or even on the tablecloth would no longer be admissible...
So I decided to put the proposed fork handle under my microscope to see what I could find. I thought I could see a faint design and after obtaining the right lighting, I was able to get a decent photo of the design on the handle. Here it is.
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| Design Found on Pewter Handle.(Magnified). |
Too bad it isn't a shield or something more specific. I'll have to look again.
Someone recently asked a question that I often receive. They asked about the laws applicable to finds. Despite my reluctance to address the subject, I have commented on the subject in the past several times to some extent.
The first step is to determine what laws apply is to first determine who owns the land where the find was made. Unfortunately, that may not always be easy.
Consider the following excerpts from an article that was published earlier this year.
Who can use Florida’s beaches? Depends on where you are?
The fight over beach access is unlikely to end in Florida, where growing populations and eroding beaches create arguments over invisible lines in the sand...
Walton County isn’t the only place where people are arguing even about where a visitor can stand. That’s because it’s not clear on the beaches or in state law where the public is or is not allowed.
The Florida Constitution says beaches below the mean high water line are public land. That’s a relatively narrow strip of land on most beaches.
The Florida Supreme Court in 1974 expanded public access to the beach — in theory.
The state’s high court said access exists under the “customary use” doctrine from English common law. The court said access to dry sandy beaches must be based on recreational use that has been “ancient, reasonable, without interruption and free from dispute.”...
This a long article that is well worth reading. Here is the link.
Who can use Florida’s beaches? Depends on where you are. - POLITICO
As you can see, the answer isn't simple and clear. There are controversies, contradictions and complications.
People often talk about the wet sand versus dry sand division as being important. As I've said before, it doesn't matter if the sand is wet or dry. The boundary for state property along the navigable waterways doesn't change with the tides or wetness of the sand. The boundary is defined by the Mean High Water Line, which, as I've also explained before, is determined by survey and up-dated every 19 years to reflect changes due to erosion or accretion.
A waterfront property owner may gain or lose property by erosion or accretion.
Although the state lands boundary is defined by the MHWL, no person you encounter on the beach is likely to know where that line is without reference to the survey markers.
While the state lands along oceans, rivers, and other waterways often abuts private property, it also at times borders public lands controlled by municipalities or even the state itself where there is a state park.
Conversely, the “dry sand” area, which is the portion of the beach landward of the MHWL up to the vegetation line or a permanent structure, is private property. The ownership of this upland area belongs to the adjacent property owner. This creates a dual-ownership system where the public has a right to be on one part of the sand while the other is privately controlled.
In areas where significant beach restoration or nourishment projects have occurred, the boundary may be different. In these cases, a permanently fixed Erosion Control Line (ECL) can replace the fluctuating MHWL as the legal demarcation between state-owned sovereign lands and private upland property. This fixed line provides a more stable and predictable boundary for property owners and the public....
See Who Owns the Beach in Florida? Public vs. Private Rights - LegalClarity for more about that.
The St. Lucie Erosion Control District (See Ch_2004-409.pdf) is responsible for the beach added below the Fort Pierce jetty, for example. Erosion control districts are cooperative efforts between local municipalities and federal agencies including the Army Corps or Engineers. They manage erosion control efforts and handle the funding.
It only seems right that areas created for erosion control are public property since they are paid for by Erosion Control District's and funded by a combination of federal and local funds and benefit the waterfront property owners extensively.
As an example of that, I was once metal detecting in front of a private beach club and the lifeguard employed by the club told me I couldn't metal detect there. He was wrong. I called the county offices and was told that it was public property back to the erosion control markers and had no right to restrict public access and use in front of the club.
There are other things that can affect your rights, including, for example, the "common use doctrine" or public safety laws, which I wrote about not long ago.
When there is a question, ask authorities. Don't be afraid to call. Get an answer. It might be incomplete or even wrong, but if you did your best, what more can you do.
In conclusion, it is my feeling that the laws are complex and confusing, but you can stay out of trouble by simply being reasonable, respecting private and public property, being kind, courteous and cooperative with authorities, and doing your best to follow the laws to the best of your understanding. A little wisdom and good judgement goes a long way. As Jesus told his disciples, "Be wise as serpents and gentle as doves."
You don't need to create conflict or trouble when there is no need. In my opinion, fading in and maintaining a low profile can be a good strategy.
I might follow up on this in the future.
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| Beautiful Day on the Treasure Coast. |
Nice day to be out on the Treasure Coast.
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| Surf Chart from SurfGuru.com. |
Nice small surf for the next few days.
Good hunting,
Treasureguide@comcast.net