Fork belonging to a cutlery set used by H.T. Ferrar on board Discovery

Fork, silver plated, decorated with fern leaf pattern and decorated ferrule and adjoining handle of ivory with rope twist decoration. Part of a set of cutlery belonging to Hartley T. Ferrar (geologist) from his time on Discovery during the 1901-1904 expedition. Set includes two forks, two knives and a teaspoon contained in a soft chamois leather pouch (possibly made later by donor's mother).

Ferrar was the youngest of the scientists on board, having graduated from Cambridge University only a month before joining the expedition. During his two years in the Antarctic, Ferrar made numerous extended sledging trips to survey the surrounding geology and collect rock samples. On one such trip he found the fossilised remains of the extinct fern species Glossopteris, providing evidence that Antarctica had once enjoyed a warmer climate.