Modern starch-polyester disposable cutlery.
Discover great deals on the many top brand items available only on eBay!

Flatware

Cutlery refers to any hand implement used in preparing, serving, and especially eating food in the Western world. It is more usually known as silverware or flatware in the United States, where cutlery can have the more specific meaning of knives and other cutting instruments. more...

Home
Kitchen & Patio
Bakeware
Bar Tools & Accessories
Children's Dining Items
Cookware
Cutlery
Dinnerware & Serving Pieces
Dishwashers
Flatware
Gold
Other
Silverplate
Stainless
Sterling Silver
Flatware Storage
Food & Wine
Glassware
Kitchen Furniture
Kitchen Plumbing
Kitchen Storage &...
Kitchen Tools & Gadgets
Linens
Outdoor Cooking & Eating
Outdoor Lighting
Patio & Garden Furniture
Pools & Spas
Ranges & Cooking Appliances
Refrigerators & Freezers
Small Kitchen Appliances
Wholesale Lots

This is probably the original meaning of the word. Since silverware suggests the presence of silver, the term tableware has come into use.

Principal meaning

The major items of cutlery in the Western world are the knife, fork and spoon. Traditionally, good quality cutlery was made from silver (hence the U.S. name), though steel was always used for more utilitarian knives, and pewter was used for some cheaper items, especially spoons. From the nineteenth century, Electroplated Nickel Silver (EPNS) was used as a cheaper substitute; nowadays, most cutlery, including quality designs, is made from stainless steel. Plastic cutlery is made for disposable use, and is frequently used outdoors (camping, excursions, and BBQ's for instance), at fast-food or take-away outlets, or provided with airline meals.

Two forms of utensil combining the functionality of pairs of cutlery are the spork (spoon / fork) and knork (knife / fork).

Etymology

The word cutler derives from the Middle English word 'cuteler' and this in turn derives from from Old French 'coutelier' which comes from 'coutel'; meaning knife.

The ancient mayan indians used the word 'cotlar' to refer to the fork like utencils they used in dining.

History

Cutlery has been made in many places. In England, the industry became concentrated by the late 16th century in and around Birmingham and Sheffield. However, the Birmingham industry increasingly concentrated on swords, made by 'long cutlers' and on other edged tools, whereas the Sheffield industry concentrated on knives.

Read more at Wikipedia.org


[List your site here Free!]

Two Salad Forks 3 Tine 6 ",Plata,Georg Jensen,Denmark $39.99 Oneida Deluxe Stainless Rushmore 10pcs2PlSets Mip Mint! $139.99
Dinner Fork - Shelby 12 Per Box - New $12.95 8 Oneida/Northland Stnless Danish Fling/Matinee teasps $8.90
Oneida Briarwood Stainless 8 Piece Replacement Lot $7.99 Oneida Flatware Stainless 18/10 service for 2 L@K $9.99
Utica Bell Flower Stainless Pastry Pie Server Mint New $5.99 4 Oneida Raphael Distinction Deluxe Dinner Forks $29.99
Oneida - Easton - 4 Salad Forks $14.00 Two Dinner Forks 7 3/4 ",Plata,Georg Jensen,Denmark $49.99
Two Hh Butter Spdrs 6 1/4 ",Plata,Georg Jensen,Denmark $39.99 New Smile Face Curved Tea Coffee Drink Spoon Teaspoon $1.99
Oneida Distinction Stainless Mansion Hall 44pc Lot Guc $129.99 Christofle- Malmaison, 5 Pc Setting - more same% disc. $303.00
Gs 18-10 stainless Gourmet Settings Teaspoon ' 6 L@K $7.99 Oneida Deluxe "Raphael" Hostess Serving Spoons 2 $9.99
Stainless Steel Flatware, Service for 12 Gift Se t- New $69.99 Dansk Stainless Flatware Thebe Blue Pattern L@K $7.99
Lunt Golden Legacy 2 New 5 Piece Flatware Settings Gold $24.99 Oneida - Easton - 5 Dinner Forks $20.50
$1 Oneida Coronet - Iced Tea Spoon(s) - New-90% Off $1.00 Stainless Steel Fork Spoon Chopstick Travel Kit $3.69
Oneida Briarwood Stainless Briarwood 5 Teaspoons $7.99 Two Cream Soups 5 7/8 ",Plata,Georg Jensen,Denmark $39.99
Wallace American Tradition Stainless 2 Dinner Fork Sets $9.99 Ercuis Citelle Stainless Set/2 5pc Place Settings $350 $249.00
Oneida/Northland-Danish Fling/Matinee sugar/butter $3.90 Oneida Heirloom Stainless Juilliard 7 Piece Lot $6.99
Oneida Paul Revere 19 Pc Lot Community $20.50 8 cocktail forks:Oneida/Northland-Da nish Fling/Matinee $8.90
Oneida - Easton - 3 Dinner Knives $12.00 New 26pc Tiki Style Stainless Flatware Set Faux Bamboo $36.00
Modern/Modernist~Stainles s Flatware~Tsubame Japan~60 pc $49.99 Antique Vintage Shell Spoon 1903-Lords Prayer On Heart $35.00
$1 Oneida Rendition Solid Serving Spoons 90% Off $1.00 Oneida American Harmony 45 Piece Set Service for 8 New $61.99
Towle Germany Stainless Moonfrost 5 Teaspoons $4.99 Two Ice Teas 7 1/8 ",Plata,Georg Jensen,Denmark $39.99
Two Place Forks 6 3/4 ",Plata,Georg Jensen,Denmark $39.99 Oneida Monte Carlo Salad Forks (6) New $24.99
$1 Oneida Belcourt Luncheon Forks - New - 90% Off $1.00 8 ice teaspoons:Oneida/Northlan d-Danish Fling/Matinee $12.90
bakelite flatware stainless $20.99 Oneida Heirloom Stainless Juilliard 3 Teaspoons $7.99
Georgian House Flatware 18-8 Stainless Japan L@K $7.99 Beautiful 54 Pc Gold Plated Stainless Silverware Ornate $41.01
Oneida Stainless Arbor American Harmony 1 Pl Setting $7.99 Nat'l Silver Co Pierced Cake Server Silver Plate $5.00
Click to see more Flatware items at ebay.com
Prices current as of last update, 11/07/09 12:05pm.

See also...
Gold, Flatware
Other, Flatware
Silverplate, Flatware
Stainless, Flatware
Sterling Silver, Flatware

Home Contact Resources Exchange Links eBay