Cutlery
At British Silverware, we own a collection of 80 private cutlery patterns, which we manufacture from our workshops in Sheffield, UK. For centuries, the city was globally renowned for producing the finest quality cutlery, and is still home to many specialist makers and manufacturers. Our cutlery is divided into four distinct categories; Hand Forged, Private Patterns, Parish Patterns & Bespoke.
Hand Forged
Our collection of hand forged patterns is unmatched in the world today. Available only in sterling silver, the cutlery is made by our artisan craftspeople, who deftly create each piece by hand using methods that have remained essentially unchanged for centuries. The designs are exquisitely detailed and each item is meticulously hand-finished to produce elegant, enduring pieces that will adorn tables for generations to come.
Private Patterns
In the halcyon days of cutlery making in Sheffield, manufacturers owned different patterns which were created for them by blanking companies. These were known as Private Patterns. Over time, many of these historic, Private Patterns were used by trade and have since become generic.
Parish Patterns
At the height of Sheffield’s cutlery production era, there were many ‘mesters’ who would buy cutlery from blanking companies that stamped out spoons and forks. Knives were made by cutlers. Their patterns became known as Parish Patterns because they were available to anyone from the blanking companies in the local parish or district.
Bespoke
Having our own in-house design and production teams means that we have the flexibility and versatility to offer our clients unique, customised designs and products. We can create completely new cutlery designs or embellish and personalise any of our existing designs through engraving, gilding, stone setting and enamelwork.