Let's eat! And bring out the cutlery!

The art of setting a table worthy of the name involves a skilful alchemy between style and choice of elements. Right down to the smallest detail. In this picture, cutlery adds a touch of refinement and modernity, and it would be wrong to think that it is only of minor importance to the spirit and intention of the setting. Or that interest in them is minimal. According to Francéclat and its Ecostat study of May 2022, French production of silver and silver-plated metal tableware grew by 19% between 2020 and 2021. Cutlery therefore continues to attract and has a bright future ahead of it. And the craze for silverware, whether inherited or unearthed at flea markets and second-hand stores to add a touch of authenticity to the table, bears witness to this. Gone are the housewares we used to take out for special occasions, now they're for everyday use! Many houses have grasped this challenge, and each is taking it up in its own way. For some, it's a question of maintaining tradition with models in solid silver or silver-plated metal, in the purest style and according to ancestral hand-crafting methods. For others, cutlery is a means of expression, and they seek support from creators and designers. This is an opportunity to experiment with new materials and finishes, and a variety of shapes... Like real table jewels, cutlery embellishes and adorns meals, to everyone's delight...

• Christofle, between tradition and modernity

Christofle has been cultivating the art of silversmithing since 1830, producing its products entirely by hand in its workshops in Normandy. Present on tables the world over, even on the ocean liner Normandie in 1935, with an impressive 40,000-piece service, the company has also called on designers to imagine pieces that have become iconic. In silver-plated metal, steel or solid silver, Christofle's cutlery respects tradition, but doesn't hesitate to break new ground. Take the Moon cutlery, presented in an egg, or the Concorde collection, also presented in an oblong case, in reference to the square from which it takes its name.

• Puiforcat, reinterpreting heritage

Since 1820, the House of Puiforcat has been revealing its expertise through collections that are as much part of its heritage (imagined by Jean Puiforcat) as they are of their time, by calling on designers such as Patrick Jouin, Michael Anastassiades and Normal Studio. Thanks to its perfect mastery of techniques, the company, which became part of Hermès in the 1990s, has revisited the arts of the table, from service to use. From the service of the same name for private individuals at the Élysée Palace to the most discerning restaurants, Puiforcat's creations seduce with their mastery of ancestral techniques.

• Degrenne, democratizing the table

Founded in 1948, Degrenne's mission was to democratize goldsmithing. To achieve this, Guy Degrenne turned to stainless steel. In the post-war period, he salvaged armor steel from tanks to make stamping dies for stainless steel flatware produced in Vire, Normandy. Since the 1980s, the company has also set up porcelain factories in Limoges and Alföld, Hungary. Degrenne renews the tableware genre for both consumers and top chefs, with classic and more designer collections.

• Valerie Objects, design for everyday use

The Belgian brand was created by Axel Van Den Bossche, CEO of the Serax company, and Veerle Wenes, owner of the renowned art and design gallery Valerie Traan in Antwerp. Their mission: to restore beauty to everyday objects, by calling on the talents of designers and creators. For tableware, Valerie Objects invited Maarten Baas, Koichi Futatsumata and Nendo to design its cutlery collections. These are of the same high standard as the other products designed by this company: quality of execution, impeccable finish and inimitable style.

• Sabre, audacity at the table

Since 1993, Sabre Paris has been brightening up the table with original, colorful flatware. Thirty years of creation began with a collaboration between Francis Gelb, son of a line of goldsmiths, and Habitat to design a knife with a square ferrule, called Sabre, which would later give its name to the company. Sabre Paris is a family affair, between Francis Gelb and his wife, Pascale. The opposite of luxury, the brand offers collections that bring a modern, casual touch to the table, and are equally suited to everyday use or exceptional meals.