Help & FAQ

What is ‘hand stamped’ cutlery?

Our hand stamped cutlery differs from that of engraved because here at The Cutlery Commission we use traditional, industrial tools to indent every single letter into the silver plate itself. Therefore marks made during the hammering process are expected and spacing and alignment of letters are not exact. It all adds to the whimsical and charming look that makes your commissioned piece of cutlery such a unique gift.

What is the cutlery made from?

Our cutlery is hand crafted in an antique style and made of brass, which is then silver plated.

Can I choose what style handle I get?

As we want the cutlery to have a vintage feel, we only stock a small quantity of each handle style at any one time. This is so each commission is unique and the collection has a 'mix match' quality. Unfortunately it is therefore not possible for customers to choose the exact pattern of handle because the stock changes so frequently. 

All of the cutlery is available with either a simple style handle or a more ornate one.  We find that 'simple' handles are especially good for men or people with a more classic taste, while the 'ornate' handles lend themselves well to ladies and people who like vintage styles.

What are the dimensions of the cutlery?

We have many styles of cutlery and handle length can vary, but as a guideline the approximate dimensions are as follows:

Coffee spoons: H12cm x W2.5cm.

Tea spoons: H14cm x W3cm.

Butter knives: H14.5 x 1.5cm.

Dessert spoons: H18 x W4cm.

Serving spoons: H20 x W4.5cm.

Cake knife: H29 x W3cm.

Cake forks: H14 x 1.5cm.

Cheese forks: H6 x W2cm.

How should the cutlery be cared for?

Because our cutlery is silver plated, none of the items are dishwasher safe and we recommend hand washing in warm water.

Although the cutlery is perfectly useable, being silver plated means that it is prone to tarnish over time and should be treated more as a keepsake rather than an every-day utensil.

And remember – silver cutlery loves a good polish now and then!

How can I pay for my order?

We currently accept payments from Visa, MasterCard, American Express or regular bank account payments - all through PayPal, a service you do not need to sign up for to use!  

How much is postage?

P&P is charged at a standard rate of £2.85. Within the UK, packages are sent via Royal Mail Recorded Signed For. All overseas deliveries are sent via standard Air Mail.

Can I amend an order once it has been placed?

Unfortunately once your order has been confirmed it gets passed to our design team – The Spoonettes, who will make the item/s to the exact specification that you have requested.  It is therefore really important that you double-check your personalisation request before placing the order.

How is my order packaged?

Each commission will arrive tied in chiffon ribbon with a branded tag and tiny spoon charm; all neatly wrapped in our bespoke acid-free tissue paper and ready to be given as a gift...or kept for yourself!

If you want that little extra touch you can now purchase a Cutlery Commission branded gift box. We can send them 'flat packed' (so you can see the cutlery then wrap yourself) or we can send it wrapped and in the 'built' box. They come in three sizes so we will allocate the correct size for the order.

How long will my order take to arrive?

Every single commission is made-to-order so unfortunately there is no way of ‘speeding things up’! We aim for customers to receive their order within 5-7 days but during busy periods it can extend to 10 days.

I’ve changed my mind! Can I return my order?

We want you to be 100% happy with your order – and we are certain you will be! But if you’ve purchased a non-personalised item and you wish to return it you have 7 days to notify us to request an exchange or refund.

If you have purchased a personalised item, Distance Selling Regulations do state that they are generally non-cancellable and non-refundable:

“personalised items that are specially made, or ordered, with your choice of name, fabric, message or other customised aspect that makes the item unique to your requirements and therefore cannot be resold.”

Please therefore double-check all the personalisation details before checkout to avoid disappointment.

How can I return or exchange a item?

You must notify us in writing if you wish to exchange an item or get a refund, and we encourage you to outline your reasons for doing so as this helps us to improve our offering.

We recommend that you return the item in appropriate packaging, use a ‘signed for’ delivery method and obtain proof of postage.