Traditional, everyday cutlery may be fairly bland, with little true thought given to aesthetic appeal. Functional stainless steel is, more often than not, what you’ll end up being offered. Design elements tend to be limited to simple lines and the occasional raised relief. Of course, none of this will do when it comes to your next dinner party, at that point something a little special is called for.
It’s now that silver, plate or solid, gold and exotic designs come into play. Upon looking at luxury flatware it becomes obvious that the choices on offer are myriad. There are some key characteristics that you should be aware of. Both, knives and forks, need to be ergonomic, there’s nothing more frustrating than a tool that is uncomfortable to hold. The handle should fit snugly in the hand and invite pressure. Particularly in knives a point of importance, the thickness or durability of the tang (the point at which the blade joins with the handle) a solid tang indicates inherent strength, meaning that the blade is unlikely to flex, or even break, under pressure. Forks, generally more open to personal preference, should be, like all cutlery, handled prior to purchase. Decisive factors are curvature and spacing between the tines (the points of the fork), both have to feel comfortable and practical to you.
Cable by Grant MacDonald
Available in either solid sterling silver or in 24kt gold plate, Cable is a work of art. As the name suggests, the intricate design is inspired by nautical cables, or rigging, and exudes an aura of stylish elegance that would be perfectly at home on a shore-bound dining room table or onboard the latest super-yacht. The smooth, curved finish of blade and tines contrast neatly with the luxurious golden or silver handles and the overall brush with modern appeal to every piece inspires a truly contemporary feel.
Price from 3,400 USD per place setting
www.grantmacdonald.com
Arabesque by Merdinger
Inspired by intricate geometric forms taken from animal and plant life, Merdinger’s Arabesque collection fuses the eternal with the new. The designs were captured in binary code and translated into the intricate designs covering the handle of each piece in a cutting edge process. The forks and the handles of the knives are lovingly crafted in 18kt gold, while the titanium, daringly curved blades of the knives are a certain talking point. This undeniably modern design meshes delightfully with the geometric designs inscribed on the handles, creating truly eye-catching pieces.
Price 10,320 USD for a six person set with display cabinet
www.merdinger.ch
Radford by Robert Welch Designs
British designer Robert Welch was a royally appointed industrial designer specialising in home and tableware. Innovative and attractive designs, allied with an incredible ease mark each Welch design, and Radford cutlery is no different. Perfectly balanced, the Radford line is perhaps the most ergonomically pleasing concept in Welch’s selection, and a pure joy to handle. The smooth, almost organic curves of the pieces hint at the extraordinary steps taken to create a simple, versatile, yet timeless design. Made from silver plate with especially hardened stainless steel cutting edges, this is a most modern collection where exemplary function meets minimalist design.
Price upon request
www.welch.co.uk
Chased and Pierced Vine by M.P. Levene
Each piece of M.P. Levene’s masterwork is crafted entirely by hand, using only the finest gold plate and silver-gilt. The stainless steel blades are hammered into shape by hand, a method almost extinct following the advent of machining. Craftsmen painstakingly define each grape and vine, resulting in deeper, more defined designs. The design itself has been in use since being exhibited at London's Great Exhibition of 1851. As a result of this laborious process each piece feels and looks heavier than most modern cutlery, imbuing the collection with a tangible sense of worth.
Price 100,000 USD for 12 place settings with serving pieces
www.mplevene.co.uk
Marchesi by Villeroy and Bosch
Marchesi is a masterpiece of modern design and the winner of the prestigious Red Dot Design Award, awarded by the authoritative Design Zentrum Nordrhein Westfalen design centre in Germany. The collection was the brainchild of multi-award-winning designer Michael Schneider and top Italian chef Gualtiero Marchesi. The pieces were designed to resemble tools, eschewing embellishment and pattern in favour of form and feature. Markedly slanted areas offset with highly reflective surfaces, and trapezoidal handles, designed to sit in the hand with utmost comfort, render the Marchesi line’s overall aesthetic utterly unique.
Price upon request
www.villeroy-boch.com
Traditional Cutlery by Laguoile
Lagouile in the Aveyron department in southern France is famed as the home of France’s knife industry and cradle the finest knives in the country. The town lends its name to company that, while traditional a maker of hunting knives, has released a line of cutlery that is at once post-modern, yet steeped in tradition. In previous centuries knives boasted wooden handles and in homage to this Lagouile offer a range of options, such as rosewood, boxwood, olive wood or juniper - even horn is available. The knife’s handle curves upward in a pleasing manner, thus allowing for total control over a blade that is thoroughly modern and forged from stainless steel.
Price upon request
www.laguiole.com
