This project arose in response to a private commission: the design and manufacture of a 12 setting, 7 piece set of contemporary silver cutlery. The aims and methods of the project were shaped by analysis of the problems to be confronted by a single worker in completing such a large commission (84 pieces).

My analysis suggested that the practice of hot forging, commonly used by small silversmithing workshops, would be inappropriate and uneconomical. Attention turned to the larger-scale manufacturing techniques of traditional industry, which generally included the casting or pressing of handle forms and the insertion of forged blades, forks and spoons. The project finally focused on methods of adapting traditional techniques to the scale of contemporary studio practice, by means of hand work and contemporary technologies. Research suggested, in terms of both design and production, that a combination of casting and forging processes would be appropriate: casting would ensure uniformity and forging would produce strength. The method was consistent; master 'blanks' were hand forged as patterns for casting. The ensuing silver castings were rolled out and cut (forks) or cold formed (spoons). Steel knife blades were water-jet cut then hand ground and soldered into two-sided cast silver handles.

Innovation lay in lack of evidence that this combination of techniques had been used by contemporary studio silversmiths, in raising of awareness of contemporary design in silver cutlery and in the considerable interest it received from practising silversmiths and students in the design and making of small batch-produced cutlery.

The cutlery was widely exhibited: including Cutting Design at the Geffrye Museum in 2002, Knife, Fork and Spoon at Metal gallery in 2003 and Collect 2004. In 2004 a set was acquired by Birmingham Museum, where it is on permanent display as an exemplar for contemporary design in batch-produced silverware.