Genuine silver
The history of silver cutlery
Even the ancient Greeks embellished their meals with beautiful silver.
In the same way that we appreciate silver today, it was appreciated by the Greeks and Romans during classical antiquity. The tastefully set table was then, as now, something that embellished the meal. Spoons, plates, goblets and bowls made of silver have been found in tombs from antiquity. The basic silversmithing technique, hammer forging, survives from this time. The form culture that developed during antiquity has also permeated European silversmithing. The different cultural periods up to the present day have borrowed a lot from the ancient Greeks and Romans. This also applies to the design and decoration of silver.
Swedish silver has a 1000-year history
In our latitudes, silversmithing began in earnest during the Middle Ages. In Sweden, as in the rest of Europe, most silver objects were made for the church. It was not until the Renaissance, which spread across Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries, that silverware began to become common in homes. In “better families,” in addition to knives and spoons, there were also bowls, platters, cups and goblets. Among peasants, silver spoons were the great status symbol. Even if habits at home were simple, people liked to set the table with silver spoons for their guests. Silver was already a good and valuable investment in uncertain times.
The knife
Of the cutlery we use today, the knife is the oldest. From the beginning, everyone had their own knife, which they carried with them on trips and when they were invited. Good table manners during the Middle Ages were to hold the knife in the right hand and eat with the fingers of the left hand. The knives of that time were long, narrow and pointed. In the absence of a fork, which had not been invented, people used the knife to skewer their pieces of meat. It was not until the end of the 17th century that people began to use rounded knife blades. This fashion came from Paris, where in 1660 Louis XIV issued a ban on pointed table knives. It sometimes happened that guests stabbed each other to death during lively feasts.
The spoon
The spoon, like the table knife, has been used since ancient times. The oldest spoons found were made of wood. They could also be made of horn, and when the forging technique developed, silver spoons became common. Silver spoons of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance often had large round blades and narrow handles. They were richly decorated and decorated with patterns that followed the fashions of art. Before the Renaissance, people rarely used spoons on the table. Spoons were used for soup and the like. Ordinary people ate directly from the pot, as they often had neither chairs nor tables. The silver spoon was also a popular gift on festive occasions such as weddings and baptisms.
The fork
Apart from large serving forks, people didn't start using forks to eat with until the 16th century. The first forks came from Italy and had two long prongs. But the fork was met with resistance when it arrived. Some people thought it was the devil's tool. Martin Luther even prayed to God to protect him from forks. Towards the end of the 16th century, knives and forks with identical handles began to be made, i.e. a cutlery with two parts. In the 17th century, three-piece cutlery, knife, fork and spoon, came in a uniform design. Silver cutlery began to be mass-produced, so it was possible to get a whole set with the same design. Later, complementary cutlery was developed, such as tea and coffee spoons, fish cutlery, butter knife, sauce spoon and dessert cutlery. By the end of the 19th century, you could set the table with up to twelve different cutlery per place setting. At that time, it was important to keep your tongue in the right place.
Even the ancient Greeks embellished their meals with beautiful silver. In the same way that we appreciate silver today, it was appreciated by the Greeks and Romans during classical antiquity. The tastefully laid table was then as now something that embellished the meal. Spoons, plates, cups and bowls made of silver have been found in tombs from antiquity. The basic silversmithing technique, hammer forging, has survived from this time. The form culture that developed during antiquity has also permeated European silversmithing. The different cultural periods up to the present day have borrowed a lot from the ancient Greeks and Romans. This also applies to the design and decoration of silver.
Swedish silver has a 1000-year history
In our latitudes, silversmithing began in earnest during the Middle Ages. In Sweden, as in the rest of Europe, most silver objects were made for the church. It was not until the Renaissance, which spread across Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries, that silverware began to become common in homes. In “better families,” in addition to knives and spoons, there were also bowls, platters, cups and goblets. Among peasants, silver spoons were the great status symbol. Even if habits at home were simple, people liked to set the table with silver spoons for their guests. Silver was already a good and valuable investment in uncertain times.
The knife
Of the cutlery we use today, the knife is the oldest. From the beginning, everyone had their own knife, which they carried with them on trips and when they were invited. Good table manners during the Middle Ages were to hold the knife in the right hand and eat with the fingers of the left hand. The knives of that time were long, narrow and pointed. In the absence of a fork, which had not been invented, people used the knife to skewer their pieces of meat. It was not until the end of the 17th century that people began to use rounded knife blades. This fashion came from Paris, where in 1660 Louis XIV issued a ban on pointed table knives. It sometimes happened that guests stabbed each other to death during lively feasts.
The spoon
The spoon, like the table knife, has been used since ancient times. The oldest spoons found were made of wood. They could also be made of horn, and when the forging technique developed, silver spoons became common. Silver spoons of the Middle Ages and the Renaissance often had large round blades and narrow handles. They were richly decorated and decorated with patterns that followed the fashions of art. Before the Renaissance, people rarely used spoons on the table. Spoons were used for soup and the like. Ordinary people ate directly from the pot, as they often had neither chairs nor tables. The silver spoon was also a popular gift on festive occasions such as weddings and baptisms.
The fork
Apart from large serving forks, people didn't start using forks to eat with until the 16th century. The first forks came from Italy and had two long prongs. But the fork was met with resistance when it arrived. Some people thought it was the devil's tool. Martin Luther even prayed to God to protect him from forks. Towards the end of the 16th century, knives and forks with identical handles began to be made, i.e. a cutlery with two parts. In the 17th century, three-piece cutlery, knife, fork and spoon, came in a uniform design. Silver cutlery began to be mass-produced, so it was possible to get a whole set with the same design. Later, complementary cutlery was developed, such as tea and coffee spoons, fish cutlery, butter knife, sauce spoon and dessert cutlery. By the end of the 19th century, you could set the table with up to twelve different cutlery per place setting. At that time, it was important to keep your tongue in the right place.