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Did you know that a two-tined fork was utilised by the Romans, Greeks, and Egyptians? However, they were only used for cooking purposes, not for eating.

Through the Ages

Eating meals using rudimentary implements have a history dating back to ancient times, so the civilised way of eating with cutlery is nothing new by any stretch of the imagination. Imagine having to eat your meals without a knife, fork or spoon, though; it would not only be messy, but it would also be a painstaking process to eat every meal with your hands.

On the other hand, spoons, unlike forks, date back to prehistoric times, however, they were made of wood and not metal. Over time, spoons were developed and crafted using precious metals to be used by wealthy families. This had all changed by the 17th century, however, as pewter spoons and knives had made it into households around the world, with cutlery made from silver being reserved for the wealthier homes.

Silver cutlery was polished so that it retained its attractive shine, and was often engraved with elaborate and intricate designs.

Engraved by Design

In those days, silver cutlery used to be engraved by hand, unlike the chemical etching process we see utilised today. All engravings were done by hand using tools and a careful, steady hand to achieve the same design repeatedly, however, these designs were never going to be exactly identical based on the engraving technique.

These days, chemical etching can be used to create intricate, beautiful, flawless, and perfect designs on cutlery, over and over, time and time again with the exact design replicated on each and every piece.

How is this possible?

Chemical etching is the process that allows metal surfaces to be corroded by acid in a systematic and controlled manner to achieve a specific design. The metal that is left behind is what has been protected from the etching agent, with no stress placed on the metal whatsoever, and no unsightly burr marks.

The entire process is very precise and can be achieved repeatedly to a very high level of accuracy, even on a short lead time.

There are many benefits of utilising chemical etching for decorative parts like silver cutlery.

• Through this process, you can create complex and intricate designs on even the thinnest of metals perfectly, without damaging or distorting the metal itself
• The process is non-invasive and it does not incur any mechanical stress to the metal surface unlike laser cutting, metal stamping, punching, and die cutting. These methods are quite aggressive by comparison
• No contaminants are present in the final product as the metal is treated with acidic and alkaline solutions during the process so thoroughly etch and then cleanse the metal parts
• Due to the efficiency, preciseness, and thoroughness of the process, it can be carried out quickly and easily. Furthermore, any changes or revisions can be undertaken and completed within a short period of time
• Compared to conventional methods of engraving, the setup, tooling, and equipment costs are much less expensive and is, therefore, a very cost-effective process to use

If you can’t imagine life without cutlery, then you’re not alone. You might be surprised by the amount of everyday items that have been manufactured or finished using our services – please browse our site for more information. Alternatively, give us a call on 01354 658787.