Russian gender colours & forks

[John Dunn]

Although Elena Molokhovets in her Подарокъ молодымъ хозяйкамъ [Podarok" molodym" xozjajkam"], first published in 1901, has a picture of carving fork with but three prongs.  

John Dunn. 
________________________________________
From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list [SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU] On Behalf Of Irina Rodimtseva [air3 at FRONTIER.COM]
Sent: 21 September 2012 02:45
To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] Russian gender colours & forks

I don't know how representative this is, but all pre-revolutionary forks that were still in use in the late 1900s in the families I know had 4 prongs.


----- Original Message -----
From: Allan, Kenneth<mailto:kenneth.allan at ULETH.CA>
To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU<mailto:SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU>
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2012 18:56
Subject: [SEELANGS] Russian gender colours & forks

I have two questions about Russian domestic culture circa 1880s-1920s.

Was it the norm then to associate the colour pink with the feminine and blue with masculine, as in Western Europe and North America?

Also, did forks in kitchen and dining use commonly have 3 prongs or 4?

Thanks,
Kenneth Allan

University of Lethbridge
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