The return of the knife holder: that little detail that changes everything!

The knife holder, small, discreet, but of paramount importance to those who don't like to see their immaculate tablecloths transformed into battlefields by a carelessly placed, soiled blade. This small accessory represented all that was most refined in the French art of living. As early as the 18th century, it took pride of place on the tables of the aristocratic elite. Made of silver or porcelain, it had a simple but crucial mission: to prevent knives from soiling precious embroidered tablecloths. At a time when every meal was a real spectacle, the knife rack embodied the care given to every detail of the table, a silent witness to the grandeur of royal and bourgeois homes.

But the 20th century, with its taste for the practical and functional, changed all that. Industrialization and the advent of plastic placemats and tablecloths rendered obsolete this little accessory, which suddenly seemed more decorative than necessary. Modern households, focused on efficiency, saw no need for such refinement. The knife holder was sidelined, gradually disappearing from everyday tables. Who needed it when plastic placemats could do the job? Our heroic accessory took refuge in collectors' showcases or was forgotten in drawers.

A discreet but elegant comeback

And yet, in 2024, the knife holder is making a comeback. At a time when meals are often eaten in a hurry, the desire to rediscover a little refinement seems to be taking hold. The French art of living, marked by attention to detail, is making a comeback, breathing new life into long-forgotten objects. Chefs like Yassine Riahi, with his small metal dachshunds for Lordy's Paris Club, or Oxana Cretu, who uses graceful white porcelain branches at Inima (2 toques) in Bordeaux, are rehabilitating this accessory on their tables. At L'Oursin, the table at the brand-new "Hotel Bleu" near Marseille, Iliane Tinchant adds a playful touch, while Sylvestre Wahid, in Courchevel, makes this small object a symbol of elegance.

The quest for perfect detail, fueled by a love of craftsmanship and made-to-measure pieces, is fuelling this resurgence. The knife holder is reinvented in unexpected forms: mischievous animals with refined designs, in wood, gilded metal or ceramic. Far from being a simple nod to a bygone era, they are becoming a veritable signature of the contemporary table. Whether bequeathed in crystal or silver, or taking the form of colorful fruit, vegetables or miniature characters, this accessory is by turns functional and resolutely stylish, ready to sublimate every meal.

These pewter knife rests by Léa Bigot ©Œuvres Sensibles; Ginko ceramic knife rest ©Couteliers Basques; Farfalle knife rest ©Sarah Espeute

Although knife rests are the finishing touch to a carefully laid table, they remain the prerogative of casual meals, where you don't plan to change cutlery for each course. A detail not to be overlooked: the knife should not be placed on its stand before the start of the meal. It's only once the blade has been used and the first flavors have been tasted that the knife holder comes into play, its role being to protect the tablecloth from an unexpected encounter with a knife that is still soiled.

"Recipes for a knife holder" by François Motte

After the success of "Seconde Main", François Motte returns in November with an astonishing new book: Recettes pour un porte-couteau, published by Hachette Cuisine. Accompanied by the talented Sonia Ezgulian for the recipes and photographer Thomas Dhellemmes, François transforms the knife holder into a source of culinary inspiration. This unique book features tailor-made dishes inspired by the shapes and designs of 32 knife holders from his collection. Each page celebrates the art of French living and the beauty of the details that transform a simple meal into a memorable experience.

• Release date: November 6, 2024
• Price: €35