Pitchfork

Object/Artifact

Porter County Museum

Name/Title

Pitchfork

Entry/Object ID

1901.47.1

Description

Mulberry pitchfork grown in France from a single tree and manipulated into this three-pronged form. The multi-year process involved binding the tree, peeling its bark, and trimming its branches. Once it reached the desired shape and size, the tree was cut down and tempered in an oven.

Use

This pitchfork was fashioned in Grasse, France, considered to be the perfume capital of the world. A tree-grown pitchfork is softer, more flexible, and better suited than a metal alternative to handle the delicate roses used in making the region’s notable fragrances.

Acquisition

Accession

1901.47

Made/Created

Time Period

20th Century

Place

Town

Grasse

Country

France

Region

Western Europe

Continent

Europe

Inscription/Signature/Marks

Type

Label

Location

Handle

Transcription

Natural Pitch Fork Grown in France It takes 7 years to grow one These Pitch Forks are used in the Perfume Factories of Grasse (France) to "pitch" Roses off of the wagons. These Roses are used to make "Otto of Rose" Perfume Oil. These Forks are Mulberry Trees, grown and trained into the shape of a Pitch Fork. When [?] old it is cut and peeled [?] tied into [?] heater oven to temper [?] toughness of the wood. Secured by Alden Scott Boyer, Parfumeur 15 Rue Royale, Paris (France) Made in France

Exhibition

Against the Grain