London Photo Gallery - Art Exhibitions & Special Events

The Culture of Cutlery

This exhibition traces European cutlery used for dining from 1425 to present. Over 30 pieces are on display in the lobby of the Goldsmith' Centre near Farringdon.

Cutlery refers to the knife, fork, and spoon today. But in the past, it only referred to the knife. Forks and spoons were considered silverware or flatware, named after the way these are manufactured by stamping from flat sheets of metal.

Their essential form has not changed much since the 15th century, although a third or fourth prong was introduced during the 17th century to make it easier and safer to scoop up food.

During medieval and Renaissance times, cutlery was worn on the body, decorated to the owner's tastes and were made from precious materials.

#12 shows Radford Bright Spork from the early 20th century. Influenced by Georgian design, the spork was actually patented in North America in 1874. Nowadays, it is a good alternative to using single use plastics.

Beneath it, #13 shows an ultra-lightweight portable cutlery set.

These items come from British silverware producers from various recent periods.

#39 is a sterling silver dinner set from 1959.

#15 and #16 are relatively new sterling silver items from the 21st century.

The first annual Contemporary Cutlery Design competition was held in 2021. Launched by the Cutlers' Company, competitors had to create a set of contemporary cutlery. Here are a few winners.

Nova Smith created this articulated cutlery set in 2023 by combining sculpture and function.

From #48 to #56, these are more historic cutlery items from the 16th to 18th centuries.

Exhibition Website