Posts Tagged ‘knife’

New to Sterling Silver Flatware? What to Look For

Are you a couple just getting married, and doing bridal registries at stores for sterling silver flatware? There's no doubt that a wedding gift of flatware in sterling silver is one that many invited guests will consider making, but one of the considerations always is cost and the kind you would be best advised to choose. The article we found that follows provides some valuable tips for first time recipients of the marvelous and ageless gift of sterling silver flatware.

What to Look For in Your First Sterling Flatware Set?

The most important decision you make, and the one with the permanent consequences, is which pattern you decide to buy. Look closely in eBay antiques/Silver/Sterling/Flatware at the categories for each manufacturer. If there is a collection for sale, search for other listings that use this pattern name to get some idea of how common this pattern is on eBay.

Sometimes you will find sellers listing collections without a pattern name, though that is getting less common over the last several years. Most sellers, even if it is their first time on eBay, realize that they will get a higher price if they do a little research on any of the many pattern identification websites so they can post the actual name of the pattern in the title of the listing.

Most sterling silver flatware will show some signs of use, but silver can be easily polished using a silver cream, and unless an item is seriously abused, flatware pieces will quickly and easily polish up so that you will be proud to have them on your table. Be very careful of black pitting on stainless steel knife blades, as this does not remove easily (or at all), and items with these marks should be avoided if at all possible.

Some sterling silver pieces may require a bit more elbow grease (that means more vigorous and longer polishing) than others, particularly the bowls of serving spoons for example, but generally there is little to worry about with any listing that gives a full description and provides good quality close-up photos. Another thing that can happen is the blades of knives can come loose from the sterling handles, but this is quite rare in my experience and any seller that doesn't acknowledge even the slightest wobble whatsoever in a listing is far over the line into misrepresentation and refund time.

The Sterling Silver Flatware is an online store with hundreds of different Sterling Silver Flatware at discounted price.

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Posted by Roberta on August 3rd, 2008 No Comments

Dining with Flatware Was Not Always the Case

Using flatware to consume a meal is a relatively recent phenomenon. Throughout most of human history, the instruments of choice were called fingers. In fact, on a recent trip to India, I had occasion to go to a traditional restaurant with some friends. There wasn't a single knife, fork or spoon in sight for me to use. So, even today, flatware is not universally in evidence at dinner tables around the world. As you might expect, there is a history behind flatware.

Read on to gain some understanding of how the dining utensils which are so much a part of our lives in the western world came about.

Robbe & Berking: Setting Fine Tables Since 1874

Humans in the 21st century take a lot for granted. Take flatware, for instance. It seems so rudimentary a concept. Today, no one would dream of sitting down to a bowl of chili with no tableware, but in the grand scheme of things, tableware was a recent development. After all, people had working fingers for transferring food from plate to mouth. What could be more efficient?

While it is true that there were forks used by the Greeks and alluded to in the Bible, these were singularly for serving food. No one thought of using a fork to eat with until the wife of the Byzantine emperor gave it a go in the 10th century. Spoons and knives were used by this time, but their use was restricted to the upper classes.

In later centuries, it became common for people to carry their personal flatware about with them. A special box called a cadena was bought for this purpose. Even in the late 1600s in the French King Louis XIV's court, aristocratic dinner guests brought their own utensils. Meanwhile, the British were disdaining the use of utensils as rather affected. In addition, the mighty Catholic church frowned upon forks because their use seemed to spurn the good hands God gave man with which to eat.

Somehow, the use of etiquette won out, and today no one would dream of hosting a formal without setting the table with gleaming silver tableware. Among the finest is Robbe & Berking. Located in Flensburg, Germany, they have been creating elegant silver pieces since 1874.

Their designs are contemporary and clean in line. Without the fancy engraving and scrolling commonly found in older silver table items, the emphasis is on craftsmanship, letting the rich beauty of the silver star. Whether the Art Deco inspired tea service, the simple round serving tray, or the many sterling silver and silver plated utensil collections, Robbe & Berking exudes high quality. Some of their award winning silver pieces have found their way into the finest homes in the world, as well as into museums. If you want to set a gorgeous table, Robbe & Berking silver is a fine choice.

If you're looking for Robmake & Berking pieces, make sure you purchase them from reputable fine china retailers.

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Posted by Roberta on July 3rd, 2008 1 Comment