The Appeal of Silver Cutlery

Cutlery refers to Western tableware such as knives, forks, and spoons used for meals.

The history of cutlery is surprisingly recent. In Europe, it is said that people ate food cut with knives by hand until around the Middle Ages.
From around the 17th century, cutlery began to be used among wealthy people, and beautifully decorated cutlery was created.

Silver cutlery, especially that beautifully decorated by silversmiths, was a symbol of wealth and is one of the representative items of antique silver.

Uses and Types

Cutlery comes in various sizes and types depending on its use.
Although they vary by era, country, and manufacturer, here are some representative examples.

1. Table Knife/Fork

These are the knives and forks used for the main course, and they are the largest size for dining.

The tips of many table knife blades are rounded. It is said that this originated when Cardinal Richelieu, who was the prime minister of King Louis XIII of France, had the tips of knives rounded so that guests would stop using them as toothpicks.

Table knives are designed to cut hard foods such as meat, so the blades wear out over time, and very few original examples from that era remain.

There are also fish knives and fish forks with blade shapes designed to make eating fish easier, and some are engraved with fish motifs for easy identification.

2. Dessert Knife/Fork

These are slightly smaller cutlery than table knives and forks.
They are primarily used during tea time.
In Japan and Asia, these sizes are sometimes used instead of table knives and forks.

3. Spoon

There are various types of spoons depending on their use, but representative examples include soup spoons for soup, dessert spoons for dessert, and teaspoons for tea.

In Europe, there is a custom of giving a silver spoon to celebrate the birth of a baby, and the phrase "born with a silver spoon in one's mouth" is used to describe being born into a wealthy family.

4. Serving Cutlery

These are large cutlery used to serve food from a large platter to individual plates.
There are also cake servers and tong-shaped items for serving cake.

Blade Material

The blade portions of knives and forks are made of materials such as sterling silver, silver plate, and stainless steel.

Most spoons are made with the handle and blade as one piece, but many knives and forks have a structure where the blade portion can be replaced, and some have handles made of a different material from the blade (e.g., sterling silver handles and silver-plated blades).

1. Sterling Silver

British antique silver cutlery uses silver with a purity of 92.5%, known as sterling silver.
Items made in continental Europe, such as France and Germany, may have purities of 95% or 80%.

Silver is a soft metal, so it is not suitable for cutting or piercing hard objects. Therefore, it is not used for the blades of knives designed to cut hard foods such as meat.

2. Silver Plate

This is what is commonly known as "silver plating".
Silver plating is applied to the surface of an alloy called nickel silver, which consists of nickel, copper, and zinc.

It is harder than sterling silver, so it can cut hard objects, but the plating may thin or peel over years of use.

3. Stainless Steel

This is an alloy of iron and chromium that is highly resistant to corrosion and rust.
It has been in practical use since around 1910, and some antique cutlery has stainless steel blades, including items where the blades were replaced later.

Compared to sterling silver and silver plate, it is durable and easy to care for, but because it is hard, it has almost no engravings or other decorations.

Handle Material and Design

In addition to sterling silver and silver plate, some handles are made of materials such as mother-of-pearl.
If the blade portion is made of sterling silver or silver plate, it is also a type of silver cutlery.

Many handles feature beautiful decorations such as engravings.

1. Sterling Silver, Silver Plate

Many handles feature designs such as engravings, known as patterns.
In the case of antiques, it is difficult to collect all types in an original set, but matching the patterns creates a sense of unity.

Representative examples include the Queen's pattern and King's pattern, and there are also original patterns created by manufacturers.
Silver-plated items became more common from around the late 19th century, and they can be purchased at much more affordable prices than sterling silver items.

2. Mother-of-Pearl

These handles are made using the nacre of mother-of-pearl, a type of shell.
They have a beautiful luster that changes color depending on the angle, but because they are made of natural material, they can be damaged by acids such as vinegar and lemon, and may develop cracks or chips from impact, so careful maintenance is required.

3. Others

In addition to silver and mother-of-pearl, some handles are made of resins such as Bakelite, deer antler, or ceramic.

Summary

Silver cutlery is a classic item among antique silver, with various types available in different uses, sizes, and designs.

Smaller spoons such as teaspoons can be purchased at relatively affordable prices even in sterling silver.
Silver is a highly thermally conductive metal, so it feels pleasant in the mouth and does not feel uncomfortably cold when eating ice cream.
It is recommended as an introduction to silver cutlery.