A TOUCH OF ELEGANCE AT YOUR TABLE
The arrangement of your fltaware on a table is an essential element in the art of table dressing, bringing a touch of elegance to every meal.
In this article, we'll take you through the subtleties of table dressing, highlighting the traditional French and English ways of arranging your cutlery.
As well as highlighting these traditions, discover how tableware has evolved over the years and the importance of reflecting different contemporary cultural practices in your cutlery layout.
The 2 main traditions : French and English
FRENCH LAYOUT
The French tradition uses a symmetrical arrangement of the flatware on either side of the plate. In the French cutlery layout, forks are placed to the left of the plate and knives and spoons to the right. Dessert cutlery is placed at the top of the plate.
Another special feature of French-style flatware layout is that the forks are placed with their points downwards and the spoons with their curved sides facing the guest.
ENGLISH LAYOUT
In contrast to the French layout, the English flatware layout has a deliberate asymmetry which is justified by the organisation of the flatware on the table according to the order in which it is used. They are positioned from the outside inwards.
In the English flatware arrangement, the forks are positioned with their points facing upwards and the spoons are placed with their curved sides against the tablecloth.
CHRISTOFLE FLATWARE
The 2 main traditions : French and English
FRENCH LAYOUT
The French tradition uses a symmetrical arrangement of cutlery on either side of the plate.
In the French flatware layout, forks are placed on the left of the plate with their tines pointing towards the tablecloth. Knives and spoons are placed on the right of the plate and the rounded side of the spoon should not be placed against the table.
ENGLISH LAYOUT
In contrast to the French cutlery layout, the English cutlery layout has the tines of the forks at the top of the table.
The spoons, on the other hand, have their curved side against the tablecloth.
CHRISTOFLE FLATWARE
The Evolution of Tableware
Christofle's modern collections, such as Mood by Christofle and the Albi collection, keep pace with the latest developments in tableware. These collections offer cutlery with contemporary designs that fit in perfectly with your modern and elegant table settings.
These pieces illustrate how silverware can be both timeless and in tune with current trends. They are accompanied by new table setting rituals, such as the MOOD, where each guest is invited to take his or her own cutlery and arrange it as he or she wishes in a relaxed atmosphere.
These new arrangements bring a touch of elegance to your table, while creating a real moment of conviviality and sharing.
Useful tips : Harmony and balance
For formal meals, opt for a classic French layout to create a sophisticated atmosphere. Dessert cutlery should be positioned above the plate or placed horizontally at the top of the plate.
You can opt for an English-style layout for casual dining. Arrange the cutlery sequentially, from outside to inside, according to the dish that will be served first.
You can also choose to arrange the flatware in a set, with each guest helping themselves from among all the cutlery laid out in the centre of the table.
