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In our previous discussion, we discovered how the spoon was the first known tableware item and that I watch too much Downton Abbey. What we didn't learn was how utensils evolved from the days of cavemen. After the spoon came the knife and then the fork. The knife and the fork, however, were mainly used for spearing things. The fork wasn't used as an actual eating utensil until the 16th-century due to its devilish appearance. People thought it resembled the devil's horns. That's a helluva stretch (pun, intended), but then again, what do I know about The Middle Ages?
Furthermore, there was a common, religious idea that God gave us hands and God gave us food, so humans should take that food that God gave with our God-given hands and deliver it to our mouths. That was a mouthful (I can't help myself with the puns. Please forgive me). After the fork was accepted at dinner tables, it was commonplace for guests to bring their own tableware and utensils to the homes they were invited to for dinner.
In 1800, not even 1% of American households owned a solitary silver spoon, let alone a fork. Silver was ideal because it was durable enough to hold up and didn't harm people like lead. However, it was expensive. The Comstock lode, a major discovery of silver located under the eastern slope of a mountain in Nevada, eventually brought silverware to the masses by 1900. It was named after Henry Comstock, a Canadian miner.
While I'm certainly not going to require my guests to scoop any of their food with a seashell or a rock, nor am I going to expect them to eat with their hands or bring their own silverware, I might opt for some cutlery that resembles the best of Lord Grantham's dining table. The Harlow Silverware Set is, after all, a romantic accolade of Victorian-era design, sure to make a sensational statement at any dinner party. Even if your plates and other tableware are, dare I say it, boring, this flatware could liven the setting. And if the conversation is lacking, just mention the history of the devilish fork. If that's not quite the ice-breaker you're hoping for, then refrain from inviting them to dinner ever again. Just kidding.
If Victorian-era isn't really your style, then maybe silverware reminiscent of the silver spoon rings we used to don in middle school are. The Jefferson Silverware Set is a refined take on a vintage design we've known and loved since our mothers handed down those cool rings that hugged our youthful fingers with pride.
I, personally, have always adored the hammered look. That metal that appears as if it's taken a beating time and time again is such a versatile style, easily paired with tableware of varying finishes and patterns. Not to mention, it's doubtful you'll notice any significant wear. And if polishing silver is too high-maintenance for you, then The Blacksmith Silverware Set is ideal as it's made of stainless steel. In addition, the hammered texture adds a gratifying tactile reward to any dining experience.
Mixing and matching has never been a bad idea. With the Jethro Silverware Set, only the fork and spoon come in this style, so pairing their earthy, sophisticated charm with a more conservative Harlow knife or dessert spoon can take any dining table from dull to dramatically designed. This also makes it easier for those of us who have difficulty deciding on just one style.
The Eleanor Silverware Set is a great choice for a more contemporary approach to a table setting. Its two-tone allure comes in stainless steel, boasting clean, curved lines eager to frame any bowl or plate upon your dinner table. It is advisable to infuse its cool sophistication into a contemporary display fit for any guest, or Lord or Lady for that matter.
Ecletticos' curated cutlery makes setting an appealing and inviting dinner table easier than the days of owning the same set of cheap, mass-produced silverware as the next door neighbors or that one friend who swears by Target's impressive selection of syle. So there's a reason we look elsewhere, right? We're looking for one-of-a-kind, eye-catching pieces that will be a part of our home lives for years to come. We're looking for quality artisanship that represents our unique style, that leaves our guests with a feeling of being welcomed in our home and the desire to return.
Yes, a fork, a spoon, and a knife are all material possessions. Still, as we've discovered, they have the potential of becoming a sentimental work of art that represents people coming together to do something intimate and potentially profound. Food brings people together, and how we eat it is part of our differing and exciting cultures. It's the ultimate human experience. As Anthony Bourdain once said, "You learn a lot about someone when you share a meal together," and surely, our utensils have a bit of a bearing on that exchange.
