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

Four pieces made of 925 sterling silver and beechwood, with fully gold-plated bowls and floral niello ornament: The Byzantium 4-piece silver cutlery set is a complete single place setting consisting of a dinner knife, dinner fork, tablespoon, and teaspoon. The combination of materials is unusual — at both ends of the warm beechwood handle sits a silver cuff with niello inlay, while the bowls of the fork, tablespoon, and teaspoon are fully gold-plated and engraved with floral motifs. The knife blade remains deliberately unplated and polished silver.

At a glance

• Material mix: Beechwood, 925 sterling silver, niello inlay, gold plating
• Pieces: 4 pieces — dinner knife, dinner fork, tablespoon, teaspoon
• Dinner knife: approx. 37 g (silver blade, polished, not gold-plated)
• Dinner fork: approx. 66 g (bowl fully gold-plated with floral niello pattern)
• Tablespoon: approx. 82.5 g (bowl fully gold-plated with floral niello pattern)
• Teaspoon: approx. 38.5 g (bowl fully gold-plated with floral niello pattern)
• Total weight: approx. 224 g
• Collection: Byzantium
• Design: Beechwood handle with silver cuffs at both ends, gold knob at the end of the handle
• Fineness: 925 sterling silver
• Packaging: dark blue case with a fine wood texture on the outside, black velvet bed inside

Material and craftsmanship

The Byzantium line breaks with the convention that 925 sterling silver cutlery should only show one visible material. Three layers meet on a single piece: oiled beechwood in the handle, polished 925 silver cuffs with inlaid niello ornament at both ends of the handle, and fully gold-plated bowls with floral niello filigree. The beechwood is hard, tight-grained, and has a dry, warm feel in the hand — a material that has been used for handles in the Russian woodworking tradition for centuries because it does not absorb tastes and does not swell when properly cared for.

At both ends of the handle sits a 925 silver cuff with floral niello ornament: black enamel in engraved silver, worked in by hand and polished to a high shine. This cuff also serves as the structural transition from wood to metal — joined without a visible seam. The visual accent is provided by the bowls of the tablespoon, teaspoon, and fork: they are fully gold-plated and bear the same floral niello pattern as the cuffs, only on a larger surface. With the dinner knife, the blade remains deliberately silver and polished, as a gold-plated edge would neither cut well nor suit the material.

The line is produced by the SevChern manufactory in 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 carried the hallmark 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 Byzantium set is an addition to the shared dining table that stands out from classic solid silver cutlery through its use of wood, gold plating, and triple material layers. For a landmark birthday in a family setting, it works as a gift that will not stay in a display case but will find its way onto Sunday tables and festive dining tables. And as a gift for a lover of Russian silversmithing — for retirement or as a family heirloom, for instance — the Byzantium line is a choice that differs stylistically from sets made entirely of silver.

The 4-piece set is the complete single place setting for one person and covers the main course, dessert, and tea. Those wishing to expand their table settings will find the matching Byzantium teaspoon with a fine wood handle sold individually in the shop — featuring identical material craftsmanship. Larger configurations for six or more people are possible through the manufactory upon request.

Engraving and SilberVerse card

This piece cannot be engraved; as a personal addition, we offer a complimentary SilberVerse card. Upon request, we will include a free 15 × 10 cm landscape-format SilberVerse card — individually designed for you, with the words that should accompany the gift. The card is sent together with the dark blue case.

Care

The beechwood handles require contact with warmth 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 wood oil to maintain their warm tone. The dishwasher is not suitable for this set — it would attack the wood and damage both the gold plating and the niello inlay through heat and aggressive detergents. Clean the set by hand with warm water and a mild detergent and dry it immediately. Between occasions, store the pieces in the supplied case with its velvet bed.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Byzantium set dishwasher safe?
No. The beechwood handles would swell due to standing water and drying heat, and aggressive detergents would attack both the gold plating on the bowls and the niello inlay on the cuffs. Clean the set exclusively by hand.

Can I expand the 4-piece set later?
Yes. The individual Byzantium teaspoon with a fine wood handle is available separately in the shop, with identical material craftsmanship. This allows for a second dessert setting to be added or a replacement piece to be purchased. Larger configurations for six or more people can be clarified by our service department upon request.

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

You might also be interested in

In our Tableware and Silver Cutlery assortment, you will find other lines made of 925 silver, ranging from simple solid silver cutlery to gold-plated sets with niello inlay. For further gift ideas for special occasions, it is worth taking a look at our gift ideas.