10 beautiful cutlery brands to upgrade your tablescape
With dining getting more obsessed with provenance, plating and Instagram photos, the utensils we eat with have quietly stepped into the spotlight. From hand-forged steak knives that gleam like sculptures to spoons shaped by centuries-old traditions, today’s cutlery is tactile, visual and deeply expressive. And in the hands of a few visionary artisans and brands, it’s become the unsung hero of the well-set table.
These are not your standard department store flatware. These cutlery are heirloom pieces forged in Japanese blacksmith towns, playful collections from Parisian ateliers and minimalist Italian sets that feel more like jewellery than utensils. Whether rooted in heritage or reimagined by contemporary designers, these knives, forks and chopsticks turn every meal into a more intimate, elevated experience.
Here’s our guide to the world’s most beautiful cutlery brands.
In case you missed it: 7 designer dining chairs that you’ll recognise from restaurants and dining rooms
Georg Jensen (Denmark)
Founded in 1904 in Copenhagen, Georg Jensen epitomises Art Nouveau elegance merged with Scandinavian minimalism. Each piece reflects its founder’s sculptor's eye, often featuring organic forms and characteristic hammered silver. While bespoke sterling silver is still crafted by hand in Denmark (with multi-generational silversmiths like Stella Birkefeldt maintaining tradition), much of their stainless steel cutlery production now occurs in specialised facilities in Thailand and Portugal. This expansion allows the brand to maintain its high quality and distinctive aesthetic globally, ensuring timeless designs like the iconic Arne Jacobsen cutlery remain accessible. Heritage and artistry are instantly on the menu when you put this set on your table.
Global (Tsubame, Japan)
Sleek, modern and unmistakably Japanese, Global knives have been a chef’s go-to since their debut in 1985. Born in the metalworking hub of Tsubame under the Yoshikin brand, Global was the brainchild of industrial designer Komin Yamada, who set out to create the perfect marriage of form and function. The result? Seamless, all-stainless-steel knives with instantly recognisable dimpled handles, designed not just for beauty but for balance and grip. Sharp and wonderfully light, these blades were a quiet revolution in professional kitchens, championed by culinary legends like Anthony Bourdain. With their futuristic silhouette and scalpel-like precision, Global knives bring a cool, clinical edge to the art of prep.
Aritsugu (Kyoto, Japan)
Tucked inside Kyoto’s vibrant Nishiki Market is Aritsugu, a quiet legend in the world of cutlery, with a backstory as sharp as its blades. Founded in 1560 as a swordsmith for the Imperial House, Aritsugu turned its steel toward the kitchen during the Tokugawa era, swapping samurai warfare for sashimi finesse. Today, stepping into the shop feels like entering a shrine to steel: the clang of forging, the scent of oiled wood and rows of gleaming blades that look almost too beautiful to use. But use them you should. Whether carbon or stainless, every knife is handmade using centuries-old techniques passed from master to apprentice. Revered by chefs across Japan and beyond, an Aritsugu knife isn’t just cutlery—it’s a piece of culinary history honed to perfection.
Sambonet (Italy)
Since 1856, Sambonet has upgraded Italian silverware into an art form. Founded by master goldsmith Giuseppe Sambonet in Vercelli, the brand quickly became the royal family’s purveyor before pioneering stainless-steel flatware in the 1930s. Under designer Roberto Sambonet, pieces like the Compasso d’Oro–winning “Pesciera” fish bowl and “Centre Line” stackables earned spots in MoMA’s permanent collection.
Today, Sambonet’s in-house design team continues to win awards. Its “H‑Art” cutlery’s heart-shaped handle still feels fresh and sculptural. Crafted from 18/10 stainless or expertly silver-plated using proprietary techniques, these pieces deliver mirror polish and longevity. Whether gracing tables at Four Seasons hotels or well-appointed homes, Sambonet remains a benchmark of functional Italian chic.
Suwada (Sanjo, Japan)
Hailing from Sanjo City in Niigata Prefecture, Japan’s heartland of blacksmithing, Suwada Blacksmith Works has forged a cult following by applying centuries-old techniques to the unexpected. Best known for their museum-worthy nail clippers (yes, really), Suwada also crafts sleek, non-serrated steak knives that feel like precision tools from a samurai’s kitchen. Made with ultra-tough nitro steel, these blades are engineered for a clean, exacting cut—no tearing, no fuss. The aesthetics are minimalist but unmistakably Japanese: think hand-polished curves and an industrial elegance that looks right at home in both Michelin-starred kitchens and design galleries. If you’re the kind of diner who notices the weight of your knife before the marbling of your steak, Suwada is your brand.
Shun (Seki, Japan)
If Global is minimalism in motion, Shun is pure poetry in steel. Handcrafted in Seki City, the centuries-old epicentre of samurai sword-making, Shun knives embody the Japanese reverence for tradition and beauty. Each blade features rippling Damascus layers wrapped around a high-carbon VG-MAX steel core, honed to a fine, gleaming edge. The effect is both visual and tactile: knives that feel like an heirloom but cut with surgical precision. From the contoured PakkaWood handles to the mesmerising water-like patterns of the blade, Shun knives are less kitchen tools than culinary katanas. They’re made for those who treat slicing as an art form and a ritual—one that deserves the best.
Alessi (Italy)
Alessi is where industrial design meets high art and occasionally, high whimsy. Founded in 1921 in Italy’s Piedmont region, the brand evolved from a modest metal workshop into a powerhouse of postmodern design, thanks to collaborations with legends like Ettore Sottsass, Philippe Starck and Jasper Morrison. Alessi’s cutlery collections are statement pieces. Expect flatware with surreal curves, architectural handles or clever nods to cultural tropes. Their “Dry” collection was one of the first to blend satin and mirror finishes, while “Mami” embodies organic sensuality. Whether you’re hosting a dinner party or a gallery opening, setting the table with Alessi is a declaration that design lives in the everyday.
See more: Alessi brings out the colour in their new summer collection
Thikun Hand-Crafted Thai Metals (Bangkok, Thailand)
Photo: Instagram / @thikun.handcraft)
At Thikun, the dinner table is where sculpture meets spoon. This Bangkok-based workshop reimagines stainless steel with the intimacy of handcraft, using age-old hammering techniques to coax out quiet elegance from a notoriously industrial material. The result? Utensils that shimmer with texture. Think water-drop motifs, rope-like coils and burnished surfaces that catch the light (and your attention). Each fork or ladle is struck hundreds of times by hand, creating pieces that feel both ancient and modern. There’s an unmistakable soul to Thikun’s work—part heirloom, part everyday luxury—that turns even a simple bowl of noodles into a tactile, visual feast.
Sabre Paris (France)
Sabre Paris is what happens when haute couture meets your silverware drawer. Founded in 1993 by Francis Gelb, the brand rebelled against the rigid codes of traditional French tableware. Instead of predictable patterns and safe colours, Sabre delivered joyful irreverence: gingham-printed forks, pastel acrylic handles, tortoiseshell teaspoons and unapologetically mismatched sets that somehow work perfectly. But behind the whimsy is real craftsmanship. All Sabre pieces are assembled and polished by hand in their Parisian workshop. It’s this fusion of playfulness and savoir-faire that has made the brand a favourite of style-savvy hosts and modern bistros alike.
Marunao (Sanjo, Japan)
Marunao elevates chopsticks to an art form. Based in Sanjo, this family-run atelier has spent over a century perfecting the fine art of dining’s most subtle tool. Using rare woods like ebony and rosewood, Marunao crafts chopsticks so refined they taper to just 1.5mm at the tip, ideal for picking up a single grain of rice or a jewel-like piece of sashimi. The signature octagonal shape offers both grip and grace, while layers of hand-applied lacquer add tactile warmth and quiet luxury. These aren’t your average utensils. They’re heirloom-worthy instruments, blending architectural precision with Japanese tradition. At Marunao, even the humble act of eating becomes a moment of ceremony.
NOW READ
7 chic cutlery sets with design pedigree