The very nice folks over at Domus have written a very interesting article about 20 cutlery sets that made design history. It is a really well researched piece about flatware through time that are influential in their design. This isn’t your regular knife, fork and spoon. And of course they have a slide show of photos.
“Extensions of our hands, they embody an etiquette that imposes rules on the use closely linked to social norms. Between continuity and experimentation with shapes and types, a selection of unmissable and iconic cutlery sets.“
“Cutlery is a clear symptom of (lack of) social belonging if it is used inappropriately. Placed on the plate in a certain way, it gives the waiters unequivocal signals about our appetite and the enjoyment of eaten dishes. At the table, it should be laid out according to a real etiquette. However, we do not care about it, preferring a casual table setting that rewards closeness and conviviality by sacrificing the etiquette itself.”
This is a great history lesson in design and form versus function.
