Blog
VR

Silver Cutlery buyers guide

Silver Cutlery buyers guide

1. THE NUMBER AND TYPE OF COURSES YOU WISH TO SERVE.

 

This is a question of how many pieces each place setting comprises. Most basic canteens 

are six or seven pieces per place setting. That is, a small knife and fork for starter courses, 

a large knife and fork for main course, large (or soup) spoon and a small spoon for dessert. 

If a seven-piece place setting then a teaspoon is also included.

 

Some people prefer to have twice as many small forks so that they can serve dessert 

with a fork as well as a spoon, and starter to be eaten with a small knife and fork. 

If one tends to start with a soup course then the need for two small forks per place 

setting is obviated, and the small knife is used for butter. Some prefer to use a specialist 

soup spoon, while others (especially on the continent) enjoy using large dinner-sized spoons for soup.

 

Similarly, some prefer to use specially designed fish knives and forks for a fish course, 

either in the same pattern as the canteen or with ornamental bone, ivory or even 

Mother of Pearl handles. The same is true of fruit cutlery, which is a charming way to 

serve a dessert, echoing a bygone era, but of course just as appropriate and practical today.

 

2. THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PEOPLE YOU WISH TO SEAT.

 

This may be as much a question of how large a dining table you have as anything else! 

At important family occasions, Christmas or other festivals, extra space can often be found 

for one or two more guests, and so often a canteen for 12 persons must be augmented 

with a few extra place settings in the same (or at least a similar) pattern. Many people are 

happy to buy an extra half service (for six persons) in silver plate for these occasions, 

which is a cost effective way of getting the numbers up for those rare occasions where a full 

canteen is not enough.

 

3. A DESIGN OF CUTLERY WHICH SUITS YOUR TASTE AND HOME.

 

There are literally thousands of different flatware patterns. Most British antique silver cutlery 

patterns are variations on a couple of basic designs. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries. 

You can find a more detailed discussion of silver patterns HERE. Style and taste are, of course, 

personal matters. Its useful to divide flatware designs in to ornate or simple, although 

of course many patterns walk the line between the two. We can also see a distinction 

between traditional and modern but again some patterns skilfully transcend these classifications. 

There are so many designs to choose from that finding something you like and that will fit 

with your home and existing dinnerware is unlikely to present a problem.

 

The most important consideration in choosing a pattern is practicality of acquiring 

what you need. If you decide, for example, you wish to purchase a full silver canteen for 

12 people in a given pattern, but think that later you will want to add fish cutlery and 

expand to 18 people, then it is important to pick a design which will be readily available. 

Happily there are lots of patterns which meet this requirement. The big three are Old English 

pattern, Fiddle Pattern and Kings Pattern, while they are closely followed by Hanovarian (Rat Tail) 

and Fiddle and Thread. All of these designs are plentiful, and there will be no problem in 

expanding a set in these designs. Many other silver flatware patterns are regularly seen, 

but might present a little more difficulty. Others are rare, and best bought in a complete service, 

or avoided.

 

4. YOUR BUDGET.

 

Put simply, plate costs hundreds, but if youre happy spending thousands then solid 

silver is an option. However, buying a silver canteen of cutlery is like a marriage:- if you 

get it right you only need to do it once in a lifetime! It also represents a significant 

financial investment for the future, to be handed down to future generations. 

Provided the right pattern has been chosen it is a simple matter to build up a service slowly, 

perhaps starting with a basic four piece place setting of silver dessert fork, silver 

dessert spoon, silver dinner fork and silver dinner spoon, and bone or synthetic handled knives,

 (or perhaps even silver plated knives in the identical pattern). In this way a starter set which 

can be immediately used to serve a 3 course meal for a maximum of 12 people can be 

acquired immediately for a relatively modest sum, and slowly expanded on as and when 

possible and desirable. This also makes an excellent (and generous!) wedding present 

for a young couple starting out in a new home.

 

Another option for those wishing to eventually have a silver canteen, but not to purchase 

it all in one go, is to pick an extensive plated canteen in a popular pattern, and replace 

the pieces bit by bit. Again this allows you to lay a full table at minimum initial outlay, 

and to spread the cost of a full silver service over the course of a few years or more.

 

INFULL Cutlery are always happy to help and advise you on your 

options while building a service.



Basic Information
  • Year Established
    --
  • Business Type
    --
  • Country / Region
    --
  • Main Industry
    --
  • Main Products
    --
  • Enterprise Legal Person
    --
  • Total Employees
    --
  • Annual Output Value
    --
  • Export Market
    --
  • Cooperated Customers
    --

Send your inquiry

Choose a different language
English
العربية
Deutsch
Español
français
italiano
日本語
한국어
Português
русский
简体中文
繁體中文
Afrikaans
አማርኛ
Azərbaycan
Беларуская
български
বাংলা
Bosanski
Català
Sugbuanon
Corsu
čeština
Cymraeg
dansk
Ελληνικά
Esperanto
Eesti
Euskara
فارسی
Suomi
Frysk
Gaeilgenah
Gàidhlig
Galego
ગુજરાતી
Hausa
Ōlelo Hawaiʻi
हिन्दी
Hmong
Hrvatski
Kreyòl ayisyen
Magyar
հայերեն
bahasa Indonesia
Igbo
Íslenska
עִברִית
Basa Jawa
ქართველი
Қазақ Тілі
ខ្មែរ
ಕನ್ನಡ
Kurdî (Kurmancî)
Кыргызча
Latin
Lëtzebuergesch
ລາວ
lietuvių
latviešu valoda‎
Malagasy
Maori
Македонски
മലയാളം
Монгол
मराठी
Bahasa Melayu
Maltese
ဗမာ
नेपाली
Nederlands
norsk
Chicheŵa
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ
Polski
پښتو
Română
سنڌي
සිංහල
Slovenčina
Slovenščina
Faasamoa
Shona
Af Soomaali
Shqip
Српски
Sesotho
Sundanese
svenska
Kiswahili
தமிழ்
తెలుగు
Точики
ภาษาไทย
Pilipino
Türkçe
Українська
اردو
O'zbek
Tiếng Việt
Xhosa
יידיש
èdè Yorùbá
Zulu
Current language:English