European Burning Fork, 16th/17th C

Description

Rare iron fork used to tender the fire of those condemned to burning at the stake, also
used to stab the condemned, sometimes killing them before the flames would. In 1553,
Queen Mary herself favored burning at the stake. Over 500 people were put to a fiery
death for refusing to deny their Protestant faith, thus giving her the title “Bloody Mary”.
The Spanish inquisition burned thousands of heretics, Jews, and accused witches. This
rare surviving example is 10 1/8″ in length, 3 1/4″ wide, with a square nail hole to attach a
long shaft (absent)