Cutlery history

Bayeux tapestry, detail

 

Written by Victor M., 3H

The word cutlery includes any hand implement used to prepare, serve and, especially, eat food in the Western world. The city of Sheffield in England has been famous for the production of cutlery since the 17^th century. 

Since the dawn of human civilization, various eating utensils were created to help us prepare, serve and eat different types of food. During the Middle Ages, the rise of metalworking industry and the new sophisticated tastes of the Renaissance movement gave the fork its worldwide popularity and place on our tables. Forks firstly appeared in the cooking chambers of many ancient civilizations such as ancient Egypt, China and Greece. In those times, forks were carved from wood or animal bones. Since the 4^th century BC, forks became common on the tables of Byzantine high classes. Since the earliest times, the spoon is considered the most perfect tool in all areas of food preparation and serving. Currently, the spoon dominates the modern way of preparing and serving foods. By the time of medieval Europe, spoons were made from cow horns, wood and brass. Another important piece of cutlery is the knife, a basic tool which also represents warriors and the elders.