But when I want to appear cultured, I’d want to use a David Mellor knife and fork to eat.
After a trip to Chatsworth for lunch, and a quick visit to the farm shop (mmm, lamb shanks) we ended up at David Mellor’s cutlery factory in Hathersage, not far from where we live.
A cutlery factory? Yes, but like those increasingly annoying M&S ads, this is not just a cutlery factory, this is a modern cutlery factory handmaking beautifully designed things.
David Mellor seems to be one of those British designers who started working in the 1960s who practiced design for humans (his projects) rather than ‘make people want one of these’ styling exercises for big corporations.
Although the factory itself was shut, the shop was open. When you hold a piece of his cutlery in your hand, it feels right, and there’s no wasted curves. Even the off-centre positioning of his mark adds to the object.
Among the things that we’d quite happily have taken home with us were the chopping boards and a full canteen of the Provençal cutlery, among others.
Just reinstalling things, upgrading and otherwise exploring a long neglected list of folders.
You never know, I might really be back now.