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Once more about the tools for eating and what they reveal about values and customs. This time we consider the flatware of the the early 20th century.
If 'everyone' can own a fork or two, then how will the elite demonstrate their refinement? Multiply the kinds of forks and knives and spoons. That increases the cost of owning a full set. It requires a larger table to set a larger, more elaborate meal to eat from it with the utensils, and introduces special knowledge about which utensil to use to each each dish. Thus, even if I have enough money to buy all those pieces and a cook to plan and prepare the meal, I still could betray my non-elite origins by eating my fish with a dessert fork.
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