Everything about Flatware totally explained
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Cutlery refers to any hand
implement used in preparing, serving, and especially eating
food in the
Western world. It is more usually known as
silverware or flatware in the
United States, where
cutlery can have the more specific meaning of knives and other cutting instruments. This is probably the original meaning of the word. Since
silverware suggests the presence of
silver, the term
tableware has come into use.
Principal meaning
The major items of cutlery in the
Western world are the
knife,
fork and
spoon. Traditionally, good quality cutlery was made from
silver (hence the U.S. name), though
steel was always used for more utilitarian knives, and
pewter was used for some cheaper items, especially spoons. From the nineteenth century,
Electroplated Nickel Silver (EPNS) was used as a cheaper substitute; nowadays, most cutlery, including quality designs, is made from
stainless steel.
Plastic cutlery is made for disposable use, and is frequently used outdoors (
camping,
excursions, and
BBQ's for instance), at
fast-food or
take-away outlets, or provided with
airline meals.
Three forms of utensil combining the functionality of pairs of cutlery are the
spork (
spoon / f
ork),
spife (
spoon / kn
ife), and
knork (
knife / f
ork).
Etymology
The word cutler derives from the
Middle English word 'cuteler' and this in turn derives from from
Old French 'coutelier' which comes from 'coutel'; meaning knife.
The ancient mayan indians used the word 'cotlar' to refer to the fork like utencils they used in dining.
History
England, the industry became concentrated by the late 16th century in and around
Birmingham and
Sheffield. However, the Birmingham industry increasingly concentrated on
swords, made by 'long cutlers' and on other edged tools, whereas the Sheffield industry concentrated on
knives.
At Sheffield, the trade of cutler became divided with allied trades emerging such as
razormaker,
awlbladesmith,
shearsmith, and forkmakers becoming distinct trades by the 18th century.
Before the mid 19th century when cheap
mild steel became available due to new methods of
steelmaking, knives (and other edged tools) were made by welding a strip of
steel on to the piece of
iron that 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.
After fabrication, the knife had to be sharpened, originally on a
grindstone, but from the late medieval period in a
blade mill or (as they were known in the Sheffield region) a cutlers wheel.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Flatware'.
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