Alessi CutleryUpdated 8 days ago
The Craft and Care of Fine Stainless Steel Cutlery
Cutlery is more than just a tool; it's an extension of our dining experience, adding a touch of elegance to every meal. Our commitment to quality craftsmanship ensures that each piece of our cutlery, made from durable 18/10 stainless steel (also known as AISI 420), is designed to last and to impress. This article delves into the meticulous production process behind our cutlery and provides essential guidance on how to care for these everyday essentials.
The Art of Cutlery Making: From Bar to Brilliance
Creating our exquisite cutlery involves a precise and multi-stage process.
Both Forks and Spoons are created towards 3 main steps:
1. Steel Shaping: Both forks and spoons begin as a solid, laminated stainless steel bar. The initial step involves reducing the thickness of this steel to the desired dimensions.
2. Forming the Utensils:
The characteristic prongs of our forks are carefully created through a precise cutting process of the shaped steel.
Spoons take shape as the end of the steel bar is skillfully bent to form the familiar bowl.
3. Thermo-Bending: Following the initial shaping, both forks and spoons undergo a thermo-bending process. This heat treatment ensures the correct curvature and strength of the final pieces.
Knives
For what concerns the Knives, we have to make a distinction between the Monobloc and Hollow-handle versions.
Here's a breakdown of the key differences:
- Hollow Handle Knives: These knives are constructed from two separate pieces of stainless steel – an AISI420 blade and an AISI304 handle. The handle is uniquely hollow, a testament to the sophisticated manufacturing techniques employed.
- Monoblock Knives: In contrast, monoblock knives are forged from a single piece of AISI420 stainless steel. The blade and the handle are continuous, offering a robust and often heavier feel.
The choice between the two often comes down to personal preference in terms of balance, weight, and aesthetic. Both types offer excellent cutting performance and durability when properly cared for.
Crafting the hollow-handle Knives
Our hollow-handle knives are unique, constructed from two distinct types of high-quality stainless steel.
The blade is made of AISI420. This steel is chosen for its strength and ability to maintain a sharp edge. Its surface is specifically strengthened to prevent damage to plates.
The handle, instead, is made of AISI304. This grade of stainless steel is selected for the handle, contributing to the overall balance and comfortable grip of the knife. The "hollow handle" is achieved through a remarkable production process, creating a space within the handle itself and this is the reason why the hollow-handle version of a knife is more expensive than the monobloc version of the same knife.
The Final Polish: The last stage of production is the crucial polishing phase. Each piece of cutlery is meticulously polished using soft brushes mounted on high-speed grinders. Abrasive pastes are applied during this process to bring out the inherent shine and lustre of the stainless steel.
Quality Assurance: Before reaching your table, every single item undergoes a rigorous quality check to ensure it meets our stringent company standards.
Washing and care
While our 18/10 stainless steel cutlery is robust, proper care is essential to maintain its shine and prevent damage. It's important to note that the polished surface, while beautiful, is not protected by any film and can be easily marred by improper handling and cleaning.
Gentle Washing is the key. We strongly recommend using a neutral detergent when washing your cutlery. Harsh chemicals can dull the finish over time.
Another important aspect is the immediate drying. After washing, the single most crucial step is to dry your cutlery immediately with a soft, clean cloth. This prevents water spots and preserves its brilliant shine.
Moreover, we suggest storing your cutlery in a dry place, ideally within a non-metal container or in designated slots in a cutlery tray. Avoid simply tossing all the pieces together in a drawer, as the impact between items of the same hardness can lead to scratches and damage.
Dishwasher Considerations: Stainless steel cutlery is dishwasher-safe, offering added convenience. However, to ensure its longevity and pristine appearance, we recommend the following if you choose to use a dishwasher:
- Separate from Other Metals: Place your cutlery in the dishwasher basket, ensuring it is well separated from other metal objects. Contact with dissimilar metals can sometimes lead to surface reactions.
- Hand Drying is Still Best: Even after the dishwasher cycle, we strongly advise drying each piece of cutlery by hand with a soft, clean cloth. This will eliminate any potential water spots and maintain its original lustre.
Flavour Considerations (Coffee Spoons/Small Utensils): While less of a concern for general cutlery, be mindful that residual strong scents from dishwasher detergents could potentially affect the delicate flavours of food served with smaller utensils like coffee spoons over time.
By understanding the care requirements of your stainless steel cutlery and following these simple guidelines, you can ensure that it remains a beautiful and functional part of your dining experience for years to come.
Alessi Cutlery Sets: the collections (LINK DA MODIFICARE)
Nuovo Milano
Designed by Ettore Sottsass, it is one of the most complete services in the Alessi catalogue. It is made of stainless steel and created from Sottsass's desire to design all the objects necessary for a "Beautiful Table". This cutlery set elegantly reinterprets a traditional design with a contemporary twist. Its smooth, rounded shapes, polished like sea-sculpted stones, offer a refined tactile experience.
Nuovo Milano 24-piece Cutlery set and 30-piece Cutlery set
Mami
Designed by Stefano Giovannoni, it is a cutlery set with rounded shapes, smooth surfaces, and ergonomic handles, designed for comfort and ease of use. Its soft lines blend harmoniously with both curvy porcelain and minimalist tableware.
Clivo
Designed by Patricia Urquiola, it is the result of a study of plant-fibre kitchen utensils, and particularly the traditional Japanese bamboo tools. The name (from the Latin clivus, slope) recalls the gesture of carving, progressively removing material to obtain the desired shape. The collection took shape from prototypes hand-sculpted by a model maker working with the designer, with a thorough and meticulous search for detail. The oval sections, inspired by chopsticks, merge into a fluid cut that brings precision and lightness to every daily gesture.
Amici
Designed by the Swiss studio BIG-GAME, the Amici cutlery set is intended to lend a touch of elegance to the everyday table. The distinctive feature of the collection is the faceted shape of the cutlery handle, a formal detail that makes this essential-lined set special. The irregular surfaces create plays of light and vibrant reflections that warm the atmosphere, making every table a pleasant place to share.
Caccia
Designed in 1938 and presented in silver at the 1940 Triennale, the Caccia cutlery series—a splendid example of "Lombard classicism" in design—was praised by Gio Ponti for its masterful balance between an enduring artisanal image and the future industrial nature of household goods. Since 1990, thanks to an agreement with the Castiglioni brothers and Luigi Caccia Dominioni, and following a philological effort to complete the series with the missing pieces, the collection has been re-edited by Alessi in 18/10 stainless steel, and in 925/00 silver for the Officina Alessi brand. The Caccia cutlery set is now available in stainless steel.
Dry
Designed by Achille Castiglioni, this collection marked Alessi's debut in cutlery production in 1982. Despite initial gloomy forecasts from industry experts, it demonstrated that the iconic and innovative strength of its shape, combined with a great sensory experience in use and an excellent finish, are far more important to the public than many old market prejudices would suggest. They are produced in 18/10 stainless steel with a polished finish and satin-finish handles. With over 26 types of cutlery, the Dry set is one of the most complete in the catalogue. Each piece is thoughtfully designed to perfectly suit the food it’s intended for: wide, elongated tines, deep bowls, and tapered blades ensure both functionality and elegance for every occasion.
Dry 5-piece, 24-piece and 30-piece Cutlery set
Colombina
Designed by Massimiliano Fuksas and Doriana Mandrelli. A collection where tradition and modernity meet, reinterpreting classic and conventional shapes with a contemporary vision. Two designers masterfully explore the theme of cutlery, bringing a touch of modernity to the dining ritual.
Colombina 16-piece and 24-piece Cutlery set
Dressed
This collection was designed by Marcel Wanders. Traditionally, decoration would be placed on the visible parts of the cutlery, but Wanders places it on the underside, hidden when the pieces are laid on the table. The result is elegant cutlery that reveals its decoration only when picked up, adding a touch of surprise and refinement.
Dressed 5-piece and 24-piece Cutlery set
Itsumo
Designed by Naoto Fukasawa, the name Itsumo translates from Japanese as "daily and forever." The designer's love for the simple, well-made, universal, and evolving beauty of everyday life is translated into a project dedicated to all those who wish to be happy every day. The design features soft yet rigorous lines combined with meticulous attention to formal details. The contoured profiles of each piece are the characteristic feature of this set, an element that ensures a pleasant sensation both when holding the objects and when they touch the lips.
KnifeForkSpoon
Designed by Jasper Morrison. A project that, following the typical minimalist approach characterising all of Morrison's work, is based on the attempt to reduce the "cutlery object" to its ultimate essence—to its purest and most customary form, tentatively definitive, and deliberately stripped of any stylistic value. Perhaps it is precisely for this reason that it is so clearly recognisable as the work of this designer.
KnifeForkSpoon 24-piece Cutlery set
Rundes Modell
Designed by Josef Hoffmann, this cutlery set perfectly embodies the balance between functionality and exceptional formal elegance. The refined craftsmanship echoes the distinctive style of the Wiener Werkstätte, the renowned applied arts collective, of which the designer was a founding member.
Rundes Modell 24-piece Cutlery set
Santiago
Designed by David Chipperfield, this collection is ideal for a casual yet elegant and timeless table setting. A cutlery set that surprises with its perfect balance of essential design and practical use. Its continuous, linear shapes, with a slightly parallelepiped profile, conceal a soft and ergonomic grip. The ideal choice for those who want a casual table setting without compromising on elegance.
Santiago 5-piece and 24-piece Cutlery set
Ovale
This collection was designed by Ronan Bouroullec and Erwan Bouroullec. The linear design blends with a meticulous study of functional details. The balanced weight and the tactile pleasure of the polished stainless steel finish add sophistication to this cutlery set. Though seemingly simple, its design reveals a deep attention to detail.
Ovale 5-piece and 24-piece Cutlery set
Occasional Object
Designed by Virgil Abloh, this collection is a limited edition of 999 numbered copies. The classic ‘mise en place’ of cutlery is deconstructed by the artistic genius of Virgil Abloh, who projects it outside its traditional context of use. Occasional Object is a set composed of a knife, fork, spoon and carabiner which, by fixing all three elements together, transforms cutlery into a personal accessory.
Occasional Object 3-piece Cutlery set
Conversational Objects
Designed by Virgil Abloh. Following his interest in tradition and good food, Virgil Abloh designed Conversational Objects as "toolsets for the dining table". With its garage-inspired design, the Conversational Objects 16-piece cutlery set and cutlery holder are meant to encourage conversation and conviviality at the dining table. This set, produced in matt-finish stainless steel, is paired with a cutlery holder with a similarly opaque finish to resemble a threaded bolt. The connection between industrial assembly and design means that the set will need to be assembled by its owner.
Conversational Objects: 16-piece Cutlery set and holder, and 4-piece Cutlery set
Giro Kids
Designed by Ben van Berkel / UNStudio, Giro Kids is a set of cutlery consisting of a knife, fork and spoon. Careful adaptation to the needs of very young children has made these the perfect tools for eating their first meals on their own. The fork has rounded tips and wide prongs, with a slightly cupped shape, similar to that of a spoon. The knife has a rounded tip and a blunt blade.
Giro Kids 3-piece Children Cutlery set
Alessini
A children’s cutlery set consisting of a table knife, fork and spoon, made from 18/10 stainless steel. The curvy, flowing shape of the cutlery is inspired by the playful imagination of young children while also serving their needs. Functionality is complemented by a pleasing, rounded shape.
Alessini 3-piece Children Cutlery set
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