Cutlery on the Move: The Journey of Portable Utensils, Monday 18 May 2026, 6pm – 7pm, £7 or £10, Online (UK time)
Discover the fascinating history of cutlery’s portability; from the medieval table to the contemporary sustainable movement, cutlery has always travelled. Explore how knives, spoons, and forks were once highly personal possessions, carried by diners, soldiers, and travellers alike. Find out how these objects were designed for practicality, versatility, and self-defence, while some even featured pearls and gemstones to denote status and others had hidden features.
Join art historian and author Rachel Church in this online talk exploring how cutlery has evolved as a multifunctional, decorative, and deeply personal object, used both at home and on the move, and traditionally given as gifts for weddings and christenings. Lean how contemporary designers are reimagining portable cutlery with a focus on the environment and sustainable materials, linking centuries of tradition and craftsmanship to the present day.
There will be the opportunity to ask questions and join in the conversation.
The talk coincides with the exhibition The Culture of Cutlery, which will be held from 22 April until 24 June 2026 at the Goldsmiths’ Centre. The exhibition explores the material history of cutlery with a focus on 20th and 21st UK makers.
Image: Wedding knife and fork, gold and niello, 1597, Netherlands. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
Do you record or broadcast your talks?
We run our events in person at the Goldsmiths’ Centre and online, so that as many of our community as possible can exchange ideas, learn from industry experts, and form valuable connections across the UK. We do not record these events, or broadcast them, to encourage the open sharing of ideas and experiences and preserve confidentiality. Popular topics will be repeated over time.
Do you have any access requirements?
We are committed to making our training programmes and events as inclusive and accessible as possible. If you have any access requirements, please inform us as early as possible so we can make the necessary arrangements. While we will do our best to accommodate your needs, advance notice is essential to ensure we can provide appropriate support.
To discuss your requirements when booking tickets for our Goldsmiths’ Centre programmes, please contact us at boxoffice@goldsmiths-centre.org
Who is the speaker?
Rachel Church has written and lectured widely on jewellery history and design. She is the author of 'Rings' (V&A/ Thames and Hudson 2011 and 2017) and 'Brooches and Badges' (V&A/ Thames and Hudson 2019). She has worked as a curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum and was part of the team which redeveloped the William and Judith Bollinger Jewellery Gallery.
Ticket options
Discover the fascinating history of cutlery’s portability; from the medieval table to the contemporary sustainable movement, cutlery has always travelled. Explore how knives, spoons, and forks were once highly personal possessions, carried by diners, soldiers, and travellers alike. Find out how these objects were designed for practicality, versatility, and self-defence, while some even featured pearls and gemstones to denote status and others had hidden features.
Join art historian and author Rachel Church in this online talk exploring how cutlery has evolved as a multifunctional, decorative, and deeply personal object, used both at home and on the move, and traditionally given as gifts for weddings and christenings. Lean how contemporary designers are reimagining portable cutlery with a focus on the environment and sustainable materials, linking centuries of tradition and craftsmanship to the present day.
There will be the opportunity to ask questions and join in the conversation.
The talk coincides with the exhibition The Culture of Cutlery, which will be held from 22 April until 24 June 2026 at the Goldsmiths’ Centre. The exhibition explores the material history of cutlery with a focus on 20th and 21st UK makers.
Image: Wedding knife and fork, gold and niello, 1597, Netherlands. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
Do you record or broadcast your talks?
We run our events in person at the Goldsmiths’ Centre and online, so that as many of our community as possible can exchange ideas, learn from industry experts, and form valuable connections across the UK. We do not record these events, or broadcast them, to encourage the open sharing of ideas and experiences and preserve confidentiality. Popular topics will be repeated over time.
Do you have any access requirements?
We are committed to making our training programmes and events as inclusive and accessible as possible. If you have any access requirements, please inform us as early as possible so we can make the necessary arrangements. While we will do our best to accommodate your needs, advance notice is essential to ensure we can provide appropriate support.
To discuss your requirements when booking tickets for our Goldsmiths’ Centre programmes, please contact us at boxoffice@goldsmiths-centre.org
Who is the speaker?
Rachel Church has written and lectured widely on jewellery history and design. She is the author of 'Rings' (V&A/ Thames and Hudson 2011 and 2017) and 'Brooches and Badges' (V&A/ Thames and Hudson 2019). She has worked as a curator at the Victoria and Albert Museum and was part of the team which redeveloped the William and Judith Bollinger Jewellery Gallery.
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