The common dishes and utensils used every day have a complex and fascinating history. The word "cutlery" itself traces back to the Old French word for "knife," coutel. Many of these tools were originally designed for different purposes. Chopsticks, for example, were first invented around 1200 BCE as long, bronze cooking tongs for retrieving food from hot pots, not as eating utensils. The spoon is likely the oldest utensil, with early versions being simple seashells or a "spon"—the Old English word for a "chip of wood."

Even plates have a varied past. In medieval Europe, the most common "plate" was a "trencher," a thick, flat slice of stale bread used to hold food and soak up juices. The fork, now a staple, was once considered scandalous in parts of Europe. Some religious leaders deemed it a blasphemous and "unmanly" tool, arguing that God had already provided natural forks in human fingers. Other combined tools, like the spork, are also older than many assume, with patents for similar concepts dating to the 19th century. Beyond their function, rare dishes can be incredibly valuable; a 900-year-old Chinese Ru ware bowl, once used for washing calligraphy brushes, sold at auction for over $37 million.

Want to learn more? Head over to my website www.funfactsdailypod.com and be sure to listen to my other podcasts Who ARTed: Weekly Art History for All Ages or Art Smart. For family fun, check out my son's podcast Rainbow Puppy Science Lab

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