Discover our range of cutlery sets crafted to bring elegance, balance and lasting quality to every table. From everyday dining to formal entertaining, Lincoln House offers beautifully made sets in stainless steel, silver plate and sterling silver.
"Excellent company, sourcing just what I needed, and at a great price. Delivery was very well packaged. Altogether, I'm a happy customer, with beautiful cutlery in the drawer."
"We wanted something special to use as a bride's knife at our wedding and found the perfect item at Lincoln House. Richard helped us get it specially engraved and provided excellent customer service throughout. We highly recommend!"
Discover our luxury 24-piece cutlery sets that are designed to last a lifetime, made from the finest materials, in a wide variety of designs.
42 Piece Cutlery Sets - 6 people
Discover our luxury 42-piece cutlery sets, designed to last a lifetime, made from the finest materials, in a wide variety of designs.
56 Piece Cutlery Sets - 8 People
Discover our luxury 56-piece cutlery sets that are designed to last a lifetime, made from the finest materials, in a wide variety of designs.
84 Piece Cutlery Sets - 12 People
Discover our luxury 84-piece cutlery sets that are designed to last a lifetime, made from the finest materials, in a wide variety of designs.
44 Piece Canteen Cutlery Sets - 6 People
Discover our luxury 44-piece Canteen Cutlery Sets that are designed to last a lifetime, made from the finest materials, in a wide variety of designs.
60 Piece Canteen Cutlery Sets - 8 People
Discover our luxury 60-piece Canteen Cutlery Sets that are designed to last a lifetime, made from the finest materials, in a wide variety of designs.
88 Piece Canteen Cutlery Sets - 12 People
Discover our luxury 88 Piece Canteen Cutlery Sets that are designed to last a lifetime – choose from silver plate, or 18/10 stainless steel – in a wide variety of designs to complement traditional and contemporary table settings.
Your guide to Cutlery Sets | Stainless Steel, Silver Plate & Sterling Silver
Discover beautifully made cutlery sets at Lincoln House, where timeless design, exceptional materials and lasting craftsmanship come together to elevate every dining occasion. Customers can choose from a wide selection of cutlery sets, including convenient packs and individual ones, to suit their style and needs. Whether you are choosing your first complete table setting, upgrading to a more refined collection or investing in a set to enjoy for years to come, our luxury cutlery sets are selected for customers who value quality, elegance and enduring performance. With a wide choice of sizes, materials and styles, our collection makes it easy to find the perfect cutlery set for your home, your lifestyle and your table.
A well-chosen cutlery set does far more than complete a place setting. Quality cutlery sets combine elegance and durability, and can elevate both everyday and special dining experiences. It shapes the dining experience through balance, comfort and visual harmony, bringing a greater sense of occasion to everyday meals and formal entertaining alike. Cutlery sets are available in various designs, including contemporary and traditional styles, and can feature unique elements such as colorful handles or lavish metals like copper and rose gold.
At Lincoln House, our range includes 16, 24, 32, 42, 56 and 84 piece cutlery sets, and you can explore exactly what's included in a cutlery set to match your household’s needs, along with larger cutlery canteen sets in 44, 60 and 88 pieces, offering elegant solutions for households of every size. Cutlery sets are perfect for both personal use and as thoughtful gifts, especially when beautifully packaged for occasions like weddings or housewarmings.
Many sets also include optional extras such as serving pieces and ancillaries, allowing you to create a table setting that feels complete, coordinated and truly considered. Brands like Debenhams, Denby, ProCook, Stellar, and IKEA offer a diverse selection of cutlery sets, including packs and discounted options, catering to different household sizes and occasions.
Place your order online today for your preferred cutlery set, and our customer service team is available to answer any questions you may have.
Luxury Cutlery Sets in the Finest Materials
Our collection of luxury cutlery sets is made from the finest materials, chosen for their beauty, durability and suitability for different styles of dining. For those seeking the highest expression of craftsmanship and heritage, we offer 925 sterling silver cutlery sets that bring unmistakable prestige and heirloom appeal to the table. For customers who appreciate the elegance of silver with practical versatility, our silver plated cutlery sets offer a refined and timeless finish. And for modern homes looking for everyday luxury, our 18/10 stainless steel cutlery sets provide outstanding durability, lasting brilliance and excellent resistance to everyday wear. 18/10 stainless steel is a superior-quality material, resistant to corrosion, and offers an elegant, polished finish. Stainless steel cutlery sets are suitable for both everyday dining and formal occasions.
These premium materials are paired with a broad choice of designs to suit both traditional and contemporary table settings. From classic patterns with heritage character to sleek, modern silhouettes with clean lines and polished finishes, each collection is chosen for its design integrity as well as its practical performance. Some cutlery sets are available in different finishes, such as polished and matte, to suit various aesthetics. Cutlery sets can include a variety of utensils, such as forks, knives, and spoons, ensuring a complete dining experience. The knife, as an essential component, adds both style and versatility to any table setting. The result is a range of cutlery sets that not only look exceptional on the table, but also feel beautifully balanced in the hand and are made to be enjoyed over many years of use. Quality cutlery sets from Lincoln House Cutlery are designed to stand the test of time, ensuring durability and lasting elegance.
Cutlery Sets for Everyday Dining and Formal Entertaining
At Lincoln House, we understand that the right cutlery set should suit the way you live as well as the way you entertain, reflecting the breadth and quality of our fine cutlery and silverware collections. That is why our collection includes a variety of configurations, from compact starter sets for smaller households to larger canteen sets designed for more comprehensive table service. Our cutlery canteen sets are available in 44 piece cutlery canteen sets for 6 people, 60 piece cutlery canteen sets for 8 people and 88 piece cutlery canteen sets for 12 people, each typically comprising table knives, table forks, dessert knives, dessert forks, dessert spoons, soup spoons, teaspoons and serving spoons in quantities to match your chosen number of place settings.
This flexibility allows you to select a set that works beautifully for everyday family meals, dinner parties, festive gatherings and special occasions. Many of our cutlery sets are also dishwasher safe, offering the convenience needed for modern living without compromising on quality or style. Whether you are setting the table for daily use or creating a more formal dining experience, our cutlery sets combine practicality with a sense of occasion that enhances every meal.
Invest in a Cutlery Set Designed to Last
A premium cutlery set is an investment in the way your table looks, feels and functions every day. It reflects your taste, supports effortless entertaining and brings a quiet sense of luxury to even the simplest meal. At Lincoln House, we specialise in high-quality cutlery sets chosen for their craftsmanship, design and long-term value, drawing on our heritage as a family-owned fine cutlery and silverware specialist to help customers find pieces that offer more than short-term convenience. These are sets designed to last a lifetime, with the quality, finish and enduring appeal that justify their place at the heart of the home.
Explore our collection of cutlery sets to find beautifully made designs in sterling silver, silver plate and 18/10 stainless steel, available in a wide range of sizes and styles, including 56 piece cutlery sets for 8 people and 84 piece cutlery sets for 12 people. Whether you are searching for a classic silver cutlery set, a contemporary stainless steel collection or a complete canteen for formal dining, Lincoln House offers exceptional choice, trusted quality and elegant tableware for every occasion.
Maintenance and Care for Your Luxury Cutlery Sets
To ensure your stainless steel cutlery sets retain their unmistakable elegance and enduring quality, thoughtful maintenance and care are essential. At Lincoln House, we believe that the beauty and performance of your premium cutlery sets should last a lifetime, enhancing every meal and elevating every occasion.
After each use, it’s important to wash your cutlery in warm, soapy water, gently removing any food residue with a soft sponge. This simple step helps preserve the brilliance of your stainless steel, keeping your spoons, forks, and knives looking as stunning as the day you received them. For tougher spots, a gentle scrub will suffice—just be sure to avoid abrasive materials that could scratch the surface and diminish the elegance of your cutlery.
While many of our stainless steel cutlery sets are designed for modern convenience, we recommend hand washing over dishwashers whenever possible. The high heat and strong detergents of dishwashers can, over time, affect the finish and quality of even the finest cutlery. By taking a few extra moments to hand wash and dry each piece with a soft cloth, you help maintain the unmistakable shine and style that make your table settings truly special.
Storage is another key factor in preserving your cutlery’s beauty. Keep your sets in a dry, cool place, away from direct sunlight, to prevent tarnishing and maintain their pristine appearance. Consider the size and number of pieces in your set when choosing a storage solution—whether it’s a classic canteen or a modern drawer insert, the right option will keep your cutlery organised and protected. For example, straight-handled designs may fit best in lined trays, while more ornate pieces might benefit from individual slots to prevent contact and scratching.
Proper care not only protects your investment but also ensures that every dining experience—whether a casual family meal or an elegant dinner party—feels effortlessly refined. When your cutlery gleams on the table, it adds a touch of sophistication that your guests will notice and appreciate. With just a bit of regular attention, your premium cutlery sets will continue to impress, making every occasion easier to enjoy and every meal a celebration of style and quality.
By following these simple care tips, you can be confident that your stainless steel cutlery sets will remain a cherished part of your table for years to come. At Lincoln House, we are dedicated to helping you add elegance to every dining experience, ensuring that your cutlery is always ready to make a lasting impression.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size cutlery set do I need?
The right size depends on how many people you usually serve and whether you want extra pieces for entertaining. A 24-piece set is typically suitable for 6 people, a 42-piece set offers a fuller table setting for 6, a 56-piece set is ideal for 8, and an 84-piece set is designed for 12. If you entertain regularly, a larger canteen set may be the better choice.
What is included in a cutlery set?
This varies by design and set size, but most cutlery sets include table knives, table forks, dessert spoons and teaspoons. Larger sets may also include dessert knives, dessert forks, soup spoons, serving spoons and other matching pieces. Each product page shows the exact contents of that particular set.
What is the best material for a cutlery set?
That depends on how you plan to use it. Stainless steel cutlery sets are ideal for everyday dining thanks to their durability and ease of care. Silver-plated cutlery sets offer a more traditional and refined look, while sterling silver cutlery sets are the finest choice for those seeking heirloom quality and timeless elegance.
Are your cutlery sets dishwasher safe?
Many of our stainless steel cutlery sets are dishwasher safe, making them well suited to modern everyday use. Some silver-plated and sterling silver sets may also be dishwasher safe, depending on the pattern and finish, but we always recommend checking the individual product details and care guidance before washing.
Can I buy extra or replacement pieces to match my set?
Yes. One of the advantages of buying from Lincoln House is that many of our cutlery patterns are also available as individual pieces. This is particularly helpful if you would like to expand your set over time or replace lost or damaged items.
Are cutlery sets a good gift?
A quality cutlery set makes an excellent gift for weddings, anniversaries, housewarmings and other important occasions. It is a practical gift that is also elegant, lasting and enjoyable to use for many years.
Do you sell cutlery canteen sets as well as standard boxed sets?
Yes. In addition to standard cutlery sets, we offer larger cutlery canteen sets for customers looking for a more comprehensive and traditional storage solution. These are particularly popular for formal dining, gifting and households that want a complete matching set kept in a dedicated canteen or cabinet.
How do I choose between a traditional and contemporary cutlery design?
Traditional patterns tend to suit classic table settings and period homes, while contemporary designs offer a cleaner, more modern look. The best choice is usually the one that feels most comfortable in the hand and complements your existing tableware and style of dining.
Hospitality Customers
Visit our hosplitality page for more informtation or call for a quote.
Disappointingly small. The ‘rattail’ turned out to be an incised pattern not a proper rattail.
My search continues.
Dear Marcus Barbor
Thank you for taking the time to review your cutlery. We are sorry for your disappointment, however, no one makes the raised rattail – or ‘proper rattail’ that you are looking for.
The traditional English “rattail” (or “rat-tail”) fork and spoon pattern is one of the oldest surviving flatware forms in Britain, dating from the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The “tail” itself was originally not decorative at all — it was structural.
For early spoons especially, the bowl and handle were often forged separately and then joined together. The raised rib on the reverse — the rat-tail — reinforced that junction and concealed or strengthened the soldered join.
Forks evolved slightly differently, but the same principle applied in many early examples:
• The tines/head were forged separately from the stem.
• The handle/stem was then fire-welded or brazed onto the fork head.
• The raised “tail” on the reverse strengthened the weak point where the neck met the fork head.
• On hand-forged examples, the rat-tail was often hand-drawn with hammer work after joining.
Early English Hanoverian forks from roughly 1700–1750 commonly show a very pronounced rat-tail because the construction genuinely needed reinforcement.
By the Georgian period, metallurgy and forging improved enough that the structural need largely disappeared. The rat-tail gradually became shallower and then decorative only. Around the later 18th century, many Hanoverian forks lost the rat-tail entirely.
Most modern “rattail” cutlery is made completely differently.
Modern stainless rattail forks are usually:
• stamped from a single blank,
• rolled and pressed in dies,
• with the “tail” formed by coining/pressing rather than forging.
The tail today is usually just a shallow pressed ridge because:
1. there is no structural joint to reinforce,
2. deep forging is expensive,
3. modern stainless alloys are much stronger than early wrought silver or iron.
Traditional hand-forged silver rattail patterns still exist today from specialist makers, but they are niche luxury production rather than mainstream manufacture.
If you are searching for traditional Rattail teaspoons (you bought 6 from us) with the raised ridge-you will need to search in the antique market.
There isn’t a single cut-off date when manufacturing techniques changed over, because methods overlapped for decades and varied by maker. But broadly:
• Fully hand-forged two-piece silver rattail forks remained common through the 18th century.
• High-end Sheffield and London silversmiths still used forged-and-joined construction into the mid-19th century.
• Industrial drop-stamping and die-forging increasingly replaced them from roughly the 1840s–1880s.
• By the early 20th century, almost all commercial EPNS and stainless rattail cutlery was one-piece stamped construction with decorative tails only.
So the “last” true structural rat-tail forks were probably being made by traditional silversmith workshops into the late Victorian or Edwardian era, but mainstream production had effectively moved to one-piece manufacture by about 1900–1920.
One useful clue when examining antique pieces:
• On genuinely old hand-forged forks, the rat-tail is usually asymmetrical, deeply raised, and organically blended into the neck.
• On modern stamped versions, it tends to be perfectly centred, shallow, and mechanically uniform.
The very pronounced rat-tail seen on early English silver is essentially evidence of the transition from forged multi-part flatware to industrial one-piece manufacture.
I hope this helps inform your search for a ‘proper Rattail’.
We do have a 30-day no-questions-asked returns policy. Your order was placed 30th March 2026, so slightly longer than this time period; however, we are happy to take the spoons back if you no longer want them. Please contact us directly to return them and we will issue a refund provided they are unused, in a new condition, and re-packaged accordingly.
If you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Lincoln House Cutlery.
Highest standard and so comfortable to hold and use.
Hi Maureen,
Thank you so much for leaving us a 5 star review - we’re over the moon!
Thank you for shopping with us and we hope to see you again soon :-)
Lincoln House Cutlery
This was a gift for a chef friend but I opened it to admire it before I gave it to him. It was truely a thing of beauty! When he received it his message simply said ‘Best Pressie Ever!’
Hi, Thank you so much for leaving us a 5 star review - we’re over the moon!
Delighted that your chef friend was delighted with the Forge de Laguiole Butter Knife - and they are right; it is a thing of beauty. I have one at home as well and love it - use it daily and it's always a joy!
Thank you for shopping with us and we hope to see you again soon :-)
Lincoln House Cutlery
Fantastic quality and service!
