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A Cutlery Above

The meal itself may be the main event, but your tender victuals aren't much of an attraction without a means to make their way from plate to mouth. Utensils that sit in your hand just so will turn eating—whether you're partaking of phesant under glass or Frosted Flakes—into an indulgent affair. Put aside the sporks as we test out the tastemakers of timeless cutlery.

Dwell Reports Cutlery Above
  • Dwell Reports Prisme Detail

    Prisme Flatware

    • Designed by: Gert Holbek, Jørgen Dahlerup
    • Made by: Stelton
    • Price: $140

    A triangular motif mirrored on the top and bottom of Prisme's handles gives good grip to the spoon and fork. Stew lovers rejoice! The bowl of this spoon is big and built for hearty bites. That same angled style that works for fork and spoon does not for the knife; it hits right in the heel of the palm, an uncomfortable pressure point. Slightly shorter handles make a more confined grip necessary.

  • Dwell Reports Artik Detail

    Artik Cutlery

    • Designed by: Laura Partanen, Arto Kankkunen
    • Made by: Iittala
    • Price: $76

    The subtle detail of descending tines plays with the precision of these otherwise perfectly composed implements. Rounded handles offer a nice change from the flatter varieties that seem to have flooded the market. The spoon is especially heavy—–the weightiest in our selection—–and feels slightly unbalanced. Going for more gazpacho could land you in the drink. The gleaming handles are sleek as heck, but they’re slick to the touch as well; bouillabaisse shouldn’t require a batting glove.

  • Dwell Reports City Detail

    City Flatware

    • Designed by: David Mellor Design
    • Price: $151.00

    There is something incredibly satisfying about wielding these Cities, which have weighted handles that provide an unparalleled equilibrium. The knife is especially ergonomic, with a handle flattened along the top edge for ease of cubing your chicken breast. Substantial tactility equates to some serious handle heft. A table setting’s worth of these utensils might not fit effortlessly in a standard flatware drawer when dinner’s over and the dishes are done, making storage in small spaces a hassle.
     

  • Dwell Reports iD Detail

    iD Flatware

    • Designed by: Richard Hutten
    • Made by: Royal VKB
    • Price: $58

    Long handles give better leverage when you’re trying to sneak a taste of mashed potatoes from the person seated next to you. The unique looped handle allows for storage beyond the standard drawer. Try keeping these on display, hung on a series of kitchen hooks. The chopsticks that come with the series are a nice touch, but their gray plastic construction doesn’t quite befit the quality of their iD counterparts. Thicker handle girth would make for a better feel.

  • Dwell Reports Model33 Detail

    Model 33 Flatware

    • Made by: Pott
    • Price: $290

    The flat handle features an ever-so-slight dip that rests effortlessly in your dinner-time grasp. Five-tined forks and a generous, round bowl on the spoon show an admirable appreciation for indulgence. Go on, pile on a few more peas! Five-tined forks? We hate to hate on the odd prong out, but it’s almost like having an extra limb—–useful, sure, but a bit strange to look at. While the oversize pieces do allow for liberal nibbling, their heft might be off-putting for a more refined table service.

  • Dwell Reports Bettina

    Bettina Flatware

    • Designed by: Future Systems
    • Made by: Alessi
    • Price: $62

    Bettina’s graceful curves are easier to maneuver around a meal than one might think, given their slightly skewed appearance. If there exists in this world a more perfectly formed coffee spoon that just begs to serve sugar lumps and stir, we have yet to find it. Wide, flat prongs will affect spearing ability, as more fork must stick through your food to secure it. An off-center spoon means soup-slurping will differ depending on which hand you favor (both hands work, but righties get the better side of the bowl).

  • Dwell Reports Bamboo Utensils Detail

    Bamboo Utensils

    • Made by: Sur La Table
    • Price: $4

    Offering a classier, reusable alternative to plastic for alfresco afternoons in the park and backyard shindigs, these bamboo tools won’t weigh down your picnic basket. The price could not be any more right. Durable and dishwasher safe, sure, but do we trust them to last as long as stainless steel? Survey says no. Better not try to stab a crouton, or this wood might break like a big leaguer’s maple bat.

  • Dwell Reports Arne Jacobsen Flatware Detail

    Arne Jacobsen Utensils

    • Designed by: Arne Jacobsen
    • Made by: Georg Jensen
    • Price: $95

    You’d be hard pressed to find a more visually striking set. These classics are still as palatable today as in 1957, when Arne Jacobsen designed them. Feed your inner film geek: Notorious detail stickler Stanley Kubrick chose these utensils for 2001’s space crew. Not for the famished. The business end of this collection—–specifically the ultra-slim, three-tined fork—–is compact enough that only the most delicate bites will survive. The blade of the knife is barely sharp enough to slice through a serving of astronaut ice cream.
     

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