Silver cutlery set Byzantium 4-piece – 925 silver, niello & precious wood

Four pieces made of 925 sterling silver and beech wood, with fully gilded bowls and floral niello ornament: The Byzanz 4-piece silver cutlery set is a complete individual place setting consisting of a dinner knife, dinner fork, tablespoon, and teaspoon. The material combination is unusual — a silver cuff with niello inlay sits at both ends of the warm beech wood handle, and the bowls of the fork, spoon, and teaspoon are fully gilded and florally engraved. The knife blade remains deliberately ungilded and polished silver.

At a glance

• Material mix: Beech wood, 925 sterling silver, niello inlay, gilding
• Pieces: 4 pieces — dinner knife, dinner fork, tablespoon, teaspoon
• Dinner knife: approx. 37 g (silver blade, polished, not gilded)
• Dinner fork: approx. 66 g (bowl fully gilded with niello floral pattern)
• Tablespoon: approx. 82.5 g (bowl fully gilded with niello floral pattern)
• Teaspoon: approx. 38.5 g (bowl fully gilded with niello floral pattern)
• Total weight: approx. 224 g
• Collection: Byzanz
• Form: Beech wood handle with silver cuffs at both ends, gold pommel at the end of the handle
• Hallmarks: 925 stamp and manufacturer's hallmark on the silver cuff
• Packaging: dark blue box with precious wood texture outside, black velvet bed inside

Material and workmanship

The Byzanz line breaks with the convention that 925 sterling silver flatware only shows one visible material. Here, three levels meet on a single piece: oiled beech wood in the handle, polished 925 silver cuffs with inlaid niello ornament at both ends of the handle, and fully gilded bowls with floral niello filigree. The beech is hard, close-grained, and feels dry-warm in the hand — a material that has been used for handles in Russian wood art tradition for centuries because it does not absorb flavors and does not swell with proper care.

At both ends of the handle sits a 925 silver cuff with floral niello ornament: black enamel in engraved silver, handcrafted and polished to a high shine. This cuff is also the constructive transition from wood to metal — set without a visible glue seam. The bowls of the tablespoon, teaspoon, and fork provide the visual accent: They are fully gilded and bear the same floral niello pattern as the cuffs, only in a larger area. For the dinner knife, the blade remains deliberately silver and polished, as a gilded cutting edge neither cuts nor corresponds to the material.

Behind the line is the SevChern manufactory from Veliky Ustyug. The art of niello in this region has been documented in writing since 1683; the current manufactory was founded in 1933 as an artel and has since borne the signature of specialized masters — engraving and niello inlay are separate work steps at SevChern.

Use and occasions

For a silver wedding anniversary after 25 years of marriage, the Byzanz set is an extension of the shared table that stands out from classic solid silver cutlery due to its wood, gilding, and triple material layer. For a round birthday with family, it functions as a gift that does not stay in the display cabinet but moves to Sunday tables and festive banquets. And as a gift to a lover of Russian silversmithing — for example, for retirement or as a family heirloom — the Byzanz line is a choice that differs stylistically from pure silver sets.

The 4-piece set is a complete individual place setting and covers the main course, dessert, and tea. If you want to extend the table with more place settings, you can find the matching Byzanz teaspoon with a precious wood handle individually in the shop — with identical material processing. Larger configurations for six or more people are available from the manufactory upon request.

Engraving and SilberVerse card

There is space for initials, a wedding date, or a name on the polished silver cuff between the beech wood handle and the gilded bowl or on the silver blade of the dinner knife. Upon request, we will include a free SilberVerse card in landscape format (15 × 10 cm) — individually designed for you, with the words that should accompany the gift. Engraving and card will be sent together with the dark blue box.

Care

The beech wood handles need warmth contact instead of a water bath: After use, wipe them with a slightly damp, not wet, cloth and dry them immediately with a soft cotton cloth. Do not place the pieces in standing water so that the wood does not swell. Once a year, you can rub the handles with a drop of food-safe wood oil to maintain their warm tone. The dishwasher is not suitable for this set — it would attack the wood and damage both the gilding and the niello inlay due to heat and aggressive detergents. Clean the set by hand with warm water and mild dish soap and dry it immediately. Store the pieces between occasions in the included box with a velvet bed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Byzanz set dishwasher safe?
No. The beech wood handles would swell due to standing water and drying heat, and aggressive cleaners would attack both the gilding of the bowls and the niello inlay of the cuffs. Clean the set exclusively by hand.

Can I expand the 4-piece set later?
Yes. The individual Byzanz teaspoon with a precious wood handle is available separately in the shop, with identical material processing. This allows you to add a second dessert place setting or buy a replacement piece. Our service can clarify larger configurations for six or more people upon request.

Why is only the bowl gilded and not the knife blade?
A gilded cutting edge would neither cut better nor last longer — the blade therefore remains deliberately silver and polished. The gilding focuses on the bowls of the fork, spoon, and teaspoon, where it acts as a visual accent to the beech wood and the niello inlay.

You might also be interested in

In the tableware and silver cutlery assortment, you will find other lines made of 925 silver, from simple solid silver cutlery to gilded sets with niello inlay. For more gift ideas for special occasions, it's worth taking a look at our gift ideas.