| Silver, steel, plate, modern or traditional? It pays | | | | Second-hand items can be less expensive and |
| to think before you fork out (quite literally). You | | | | better quality than new ones, and often have an |
| can, of course, pick up perfectly useable cutlery | | | | element of history, too. 'A fun way to build up a |
| cheaply and easily at most department stores | | | | canteen is buying it piecemeal, either in sets of six |
| and supermarkets. But if you feel it's time to | | | | or by buying single pieces at a time. More |
| upgrade to something a little more luxurious, then | | | | common patterns can be picked up cheaply at |
| consider how much you would like to spend, the | | | | car-boot sales and antiques fairs,' says Gary |
| type of design that appeals to you and, finally, | | | | Bottomley, of silversmith company Reign Beau |
| how many place settings you are likely to need. | | | | Ltd, specialists in buying and selling antique silver. |
| Sets of cutlery can range from £10 to | | | | Try Portobello Market, Alfie's Antique Market or a |
| £10,000, so make sure you fix your | | | | specialist dealer for bigger sets. |
| budget before you begin shopping. Bear in mind | | | | Condition is probably the most important criterion |
| that if you choose a design that's available in single | | | | when buying an old canteen. The tines on forks |
| pieces, you can always add to your service bit by | | | | should be equal lengths and the spoons should |
| bit, which can be a more affordable way to build | | | | retain their original shape and not have sharp tips. |
| your collection. | | | | Look out for crisp decoration on the more |
| Materials: What to Choose | | | | elaborate patterns (eg Kings), as this will make it |
| There are three basic options: stainless steel, | | | | more valuable. Second-hand, silver-plated canteens |
| silver plate and sterling silver (which is generally | | | | are plentiful, but may be damaged. Breathe on |
| made to order). Each has its own benefits, but | | | | vulnerable areas (eg the back of the bowls or |
| costs vary greatly. | | | | tines) to reveal any differing colour of the |
| 80 per cent of cutlery is 18/10 stainless steel, an | | | | underlying metal. |
| alloy of iron with chrome and nickel added to | | | | How much cutlery should I buy? |
| make it corrosion resistant. This combination | | | | 'The rise of the single household means that the |
| makes it suitable for use in dishwashers, so | | | | amount of cutlery people buy is less determined |
| convenient for everyday use. Stainless-steel | | | | by the number of people in the house and more |
| cutlery generally comes in a wider range of | | | | by how many times the dishwasher is loaded |
| designs than silver-plated cutlery. | | | | before the clean stuff runs out,' explains Tony |
| Silver doesn't react with most foods and is | | | | Miles at Richardson Sheffield. 'People buy place |
| resistant to staining and corrosion, so it's | | | | settings by this factor as much as family size'. |
| particularly suitable for cutlery. However, because | | | | With this in mind, think about how many place |
| it is a soft metal, it's not suitable for knife blades, | | | | settings and what components you require. Do |
| which will be made out of stainless steel, unless | | | | you entertain often or are your eating |
| antique. Both sterling silver and plated cutlery will | | | | arrangements a more casual affair? Do you really |
| require polishing every so often. | | | | need a full service or will it just end up collecting |
| Resin handles have replaced bone (which are now | | | | dust? Why waste valuable space on soup spoons |
| illegal) and these are dishwasher safe, whereas | | | | if you never serve soup? However, if you do lay |
| bone handles can only be bought as second-hand | | | | a formal table, then stocking up could be a good |
| pieces and should always be hand washed. | | | | investment. Rachelle Blindt at John Lewis says, 'If |
| The design you choose is, of course, largely | | | | you have people round for dinner on a regular |
| based on your own style and taste, but all the | | | | basis, buy two sets of knives and forks so you |
| experts agree that touching and holding the | | | | won't have to wash up between courses. |
| cutlery is an absolute must. 'Choosing cutlery is a | | | | Similarly, if you're always losing teaspoons, buy 12 |
| very personal thing,' says Holly Verrill at David | | | | instead of eight.' For this reason, designs that |
| Mellor. 'Most people like heavier cutlery, but it's all | | | | allow you to buy individual components are a good |
| about personal preference.' If you decide on a | | | | idea - you can also replace the odd spoon or fork |
| contemporary design, remember that modern | | | | that will inevitably go astray. |
| pieces should still be easy to use. 'Our designers | | | | Care and Cleaning |
| take home models to test them,' says Tony Miles | | | | Washing by hand is by far the best way to clean |
| at Richardson Sheffield. 'The feel of the cutlery is | | | | all cutlery, but very few people have the time or |
| all-important - it must be functional as well as | | | | the patience for it. As a result, most flatware, |
| stylish.' | | | | including silver, is now dishwasher safe, but there |
| Consider how well the design will stand the test of | | | | are still a few rules to follow:o Avoid soaking your |
| time, as there's no point splashing out if it's going | | | | cutlery as mineral salts in the water can attack |
| to look dated in a few years. If a design is | | | | the surface of the metal.o Remove stainless steel |
| discontinued then it will be difficult to source extra | | | | from the dishwasher promptly as it is prone to |
| items as replacements or accessories to build on | | | | corrosion if left in a moist atmosphere.o Avoid |
| your collection. | | | | prolonged contact with very hot fat, salt, vinegar, |
| To avoid this, choose a modern classic like David | | | | egg, tomato sauce, acidic fruits and wine, as |
| Mellor's Pride range. | | | | these can cause surface blemishes.o Stainless |
| If you prefer a traditional pattern, you can go for | | | | steel can't rust, but it can pick up marks from |
| a newly manufactured service, which will allow | | | | steel wool or non-stainless-steel implements.o |
| you to choose the quantity and types of pieces | | | | Never mix silverware with stainless steel in the |
| you want, or a second-hand or antique set. | | | | wash as it can cause a chemical reaction and |
| Traditional, or 'Parrish' patterns as they are | | | | leave stains.o Never use silver polish on stainless |
| known, include Rattail, which dates from the | | | | steel.o After you have cleaned off silver polish, |
| 1700s, Bead, Old English, Fiddle and Kings, to name | | | | wash the pieces in warm soapy water before |
| but a few, and are often the types handed down | | | | using.o Keep silver and plated cutlery in an air-tight |
| over generations. These generic patterns have no | | | | container or in a special anti-tarnish roll when not in |
| patent, therefore can be produced by any | | | | use.o Some areas of silver cutlery tarnish faster |
| company, and are still very popular today. | | | | than the rest of the piece as they are in direct |
| Buying Antique - What to Look For | | | | contact with food, so mainly polish these bits. |