Cutlery

French travelling set of cutlery, 1550–1600,Victoria and Albert Museum

An example of modern cutlery,designby architect andproduct designerZaha Hadid(2007).

Cutlery(also referred to assilverware,flatware,ortableware) includes any handimplementused in preparing, serving, and especially eatingfoodinWestern culture.A person who makes or sells cutlery is called acutler.While most cutlers were historically men, women could be cutlers too;Agnes Cotillerwas working as a cutler in London in 1346, and training a woman apprentice, known as Juseana.

The city ofSheffieldin England has been famous for the production of cutlery since the 17th century and a train – theMaster Cutler– running from Sheffield toLondonwas named after the industry.Bringing affordable cutlery to the masses,stainless steelwas developed in Sheffield in the early 20th century.

The major items of cutlery inWestern cultureare theknife,forkandspoon.These three implements first appeared together on tables in Britain in theGeorgian era.In recent times, hybrid versions of cutlery have been made combining the functionality of different eating implements, including thespork(spoon / fork),spife(spoon / knife), andknork(knife / fork). Thesporforsplaydcombines all three.

Etymology

The word cutler derives from theMiddle Englishword 'cuteler' and this in turn derives fromOld French'coutelier' which comes from 'coutel'; meaning knife (modern French: couteau).The word's early origins can be seen in the Latin word 'culter' (knife).

Composition

A set (known as acanteen) ofGeorgian erasilver cutlery, including ladles, and serving spoons. The thin item on the left is amarrow scoopfor eatingbone marrow.

Metallic

Sterling silveris the traditional material from which good quality cutlery is made. Historically, silver had the advantage over other metals of being less chemically reactive. Chemical reactions between certain foods and the cutlery metal can lead to unpleasant tastes. Gold is even less reactive than silver, but the use of gold cutlery was confined to the exceptionally wealthy, such as monarchs.

Steelwas always used for more utilitarian knives, andpewterwas used for some cheaper items, especially spoons. From the nineteenth century,electroplated nickel silver(EPNS) was used as a cheaper substitute for sterling silver.

In 1913, the British metallurgistHarry Brearleydiscoveredstainless steelby chance, bringing affordable cutlery to the masses.This metal has come to be the predominant one used in cutlery. An alternative ismelchior,corrosion-resistant nickel and copper alloy, which can also sometimes contain manganese and nickel-iron.

Titanium has also been used to make cutlery for its lower thermal conductivity and weight savings compared to steel, with uses in camping.

Plastic

Plasticcutlery is made fordisposableuse, and is frequently used outdoors forcamping,excursions,andbarbecuesfor instance. Plastic cutlery is also commonly used atfast-foodortake-awayoutlets and provided withairline mealsin economy class. Plastic is also used for children's cutlery. It is often thicker and more durable than disposable plastic cutlery.

Wooden

Bamboo cutlery

Woodencutlery

Woodendisposable cutlery is available as a popularbiodegradablealternative. Bamboo (although not a wood) and maple are popular choices.

Edible

Edible cutlery is made from dried grains.These are made primarily with rice, millets or wheat. Since rice cultivation needs a lot of water, manufacturers market millet based products as more environment friendly. Thebatteris baked in moulds which hardens it. Some manufacturers offer an option of flavoured cutlery. Edible cutlery decomposes in about a week if disposed.

Industry

Atable settingfor an eight-course meal. It includes abutter spreaderresting on a crystal stand; a cocktail fork, soup spoon, dessert fork, dessert spoon and an ice cream fork, as well as separate knives and forks for fish,entrée,main course and salad

At Sheffield the trade of cutler became divided, with allied trades such asrazormaker,awlbladesmith,shearsmithand forkmaker emerging and becoming distinct trades by the 18th century.

Before the mid 19th century when cheapmild steelbecame available due to new methods ofsteelmaking,knives (and other edged tools) were made by welding a strip ofsteelon to the piece ofironthat was to be formed into a knife, or sandwiching a strip of steel between two pieces of iron. This was done because steel was then a much more expensive commodity than iron. Modern blades are sometimeslaminated,but for a different reason. Since the hardest steel is brittle, a layer of hard steel may be laid between two layers of a milder, less brittle steel, for a blade that keeps a sharp edge well, and is less likely to break in service.

After fabrication, the knife had to be sharpened, originally on agrindstone,but from the late medieval period in ablade millor (as they were known in the Sheffield region) a cutlers wheel.

Disposable cutlery

Plastic

Starch-polyester disposable cutlery

Introduced forconveniencepurposes (lightweight, no cleanup after the meal required),disposablecutlery made ofplastichas become a huge worldwide market.Along with otherdisposable tableware(paper plates, plastic table covers,disposable cups,paper napkins,etc.), these products have become essential for thefast foodandcateringindustry. The products are emblematic ofthrow-away societiesand the cause of millions of tons of non-biodegradableplastic waste.The European Union has banned such plastic products from 3 July 2021 as part of theEuropean Plastics Strategy.Bans are also planned in the UK and Canada.

Wooden

As an ecofriendly alternative to non-degradable plastic, wooden cutlery is gaining popularity. Some manufacturers coat their products in food-safe plant oils, waxes and lemon juice for a longer shelf life making these safe for human use. Cutlery is then cured for a few days before leaving the manufacturing plant.

Manufacturing centres

Traditional centres of cutlery-making include:

• Caldas das TaipasinPortugal
• AlbaceteinSpain
• MeridenandOneidainUnited States of America
• PremanainItaly
• Sheffieldin theUnited Kingdom
• SolingeninGermany
• SekiandSakaiinJapan
• StyriainAustria
• ThiersandLaguioleinFrance
• ToledoinSpain
• WazirabadinPakistan
• GalwayinIreland
• Carlos BarbosainBrazil

See also

• Cutler (disambiguation)
• Eating utensil etiquette
• Steak knife
• Table setting
• Tableware
• List of eating utensils
• List of food preparation utensils
• Sujeo

Further reading

• Hey, D.The Fiery Blades of Hallamshire: Sheffield and Its Neighbourhood, 1660–1740(Leicester University Press 1991). 193–140.
• Lloyd, G. I. H.The Cutlery Trades: An Historical Essay in the Economics of Small Scale Production.(1913; repr. 1968).

External links

• Associazione culturale Coltellinai Forgiatori Bergamaschi– Research laboratory on damascus steel