Contemporary Reviews

Cutlery is the name given to all hand implements that are used in the preparation and serving of food, including forks, spoons, knives, and serving implements. While cutlery (Besteck) is a western term that is used to describe implements that are used in the western world, its use is expanding due to the growth of the English language.
However, even in the west, there are other terms that are used to describe the same objects, such as silverware and flatware in the United States. While the word cutlery is still used in the United States, it is more commonly used to describe specific cutting implements like knives. Cutlery has a long and rich history of use in the west, with the documented use of cutlery implements going back hundreds of years.

The first ever documented use of cutlery comes from the term “cutler”, which appeared in a 1297 tax return in Sheffield, England. There is also evidence of a Sheffield knife which was listed in the King’s possessions in the Tower of London in the early 1300s. While evidence of cutlery from this time is scarce, there is enough to presume it was being used in the United Kingdom during this time. For more physical evidence, we have to go to the 14th century, where a number of knives that are still in existence have been dated back to. Several knifes from this period are on display at the Cutlers’ Hall in Sheffield, England. However, it is likely that cutlery was being used throughout Europe during this time, and possibly much earlier on in human history as well.

A number of advances in the 19th century made it possible for people to produce stronger and more durable cutlery items, especially through the development of inexpensive mild steel. Access to new materials made it possible for craftsmen to make new types of knives and other cutlery implements. Since the hardest kind of steel is brittle in its nature, most knives and other implements were made using two outside layers of a milder, less brittle steel. Cutlery continues to be manufactured all around the world, with new implements being developed alongside traditional items. While the standard table cutlery consisting of knives, forks, and spoons is very established and unlikely to change, some companies continue to innovate when making cutlery involved in food preparation and items used for cooking and food service.