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Fork of Vevey

La Fourchette, also known as Fork of Vevey, is a stainless steel sculpture on the shore of Lake Geneva in Vevey, Switzerland. It is part of the Alimentarium, a museum focused on food and Nestlé's history. The fork was created in 1995 by Swiss artists Jean-Pierre Zaugg and C. Toda to mark the museum’s tenth anniversary. It was removed in 1996, then reinstated about a decade later after a public petition. The Alimentarium calls it the world’s largest fork, and Guinness World Records has listed it since 2014, although larger forks exist in Springfield, Missouri, and Creede, Colorado.

The Fork of Vevey sculpture stands upright in calm water with its reflection visible.
The Fork of Vevey rises from the water with mountains in the background.
October 2024 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Fork of Vevey sculpture rises from the water with mountains and birds in the background.
The Fork of Vevey stands in the water near Vevey, with distant mountains and birds on the lake.
February 2008 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
Fork of Vevey sculpture standing in the water of Lake Geneva near a rocky shore, with mountains and buildings in the distance.
Fork of Vevey standing upright in Lake Geneva near the shoreline at Vevey.
October 2007 © · CC BY-SA 3.0
The Fork of Vevey sculpture stands in the lake with mountains and a cloudy sky in the background.
The Fork of Vevey rises from the water on the lakeshore, with distant mountains behind it.
June 2018 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
The Fork of Vevey sculpture stands partly submerged in calm water at sunset, with mountains in the distance and a bird in the sky.
The Fork of Vevey rises from the water as the sun sets behind distant mountains.
January 2020 © · CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

TitleLa Fourchette de Vevey
TypeSculpture
Depicted objectA fork

Creator

ArtistJean-Pierre Zaugg and C. Toda
Artist nationalitySwiss

Historical context

Created1995
PurposeTo mark the tenth anniversary of the Alimentarium

Materials

MaterialStainless steel

Location and ownership

InstitutionThe Alimentarium, a museum in Vevey with a permanent exhibition on food and the history of Nestlé
LocationOn the shore of Lake Geneva in Vevey, Switzerland
Position relative to statue of CharlotAbout ten metres from the statue of Charlot

History and restoration

InstalledInitially installed in 1995
Removed1996
ReinstatedAbout a decade later, following a public petition
Exhibited againReturned at an unspecified date for the temporary exhibition Couverts découverts
Lake placement approvedAt the end of 2008, the canton of Vaud agreed that the fork could remain planted in the lake

Physical characteristics

HeightNot specified in the fragment
WidthNot specified in the fragment

Significance

Record claimThe Alimentarium claims it is the world's largest fork; since 2014, Guinness World Records has listed it as the world's largest fork, though the claim is disputed by larger forks in Springfield, Missouri, and Creede, Colorado