Cover Arne Jacobsen's iconic cutlery was used in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey
Daily meals are elevated when one is eating using flatware designed by legendary architects and designers whose names are usually associated with grand buildings and iconic furniture. Each a celebration in miniature of the designer's ethos; here are seven of our favourites

1. Achille Castiglioni's Dry Cutlery for Alessi

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Designed by Achille Castiglioni in 1982, the Milanese architect created this beautiful yet practical set for Alessi combining shiny mirror finish cutlery and matte finish handles. The designer, who is considered one of the great masters of Italian design, believed objects had to fulfil two essential requirements. First, they should offer practical solutions to the small problems arising while being at the table, possibly with intelligent functional innovation. Second, they should also satisfy the public’s taste, for example, for the finish of metal.

Available at Alessi and other retailers including Farfetch, Selfridges, and Tangs

See also: 6 Eco-Conscious Tableware Brands To Know

2. Henning Koppel’s New York Flatware for Georg Jensen

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Designed by the master of Danish mid Century design himself, Henning Koppel's New York flatware looks as modern as when they were first designed in 1963. The sleek set features a curvy silhouette combined with a matt stainless steel finish which embodies minimalist Scandinavian design. Each piece eloquently expresses Koppel's ability to marry form with function with clear lines and a pared down aesthetic, brought to life by this Danish heritage brand renowned craftsmanship.

Georg Jensen is available at Studio 216 in Singapore and Malaysia.

3. Antonio Citterio’s 98 Cutlery Set for Ittala

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Having designed Armani and Bulgari hotels, Antonio Citterio turns his attention to something on a smaller scale with his 98 cutlery set for Finnish design brand, Iittala. Drawing influence from traditional restaurant cutlery, the well-proportioned pieces are versatile enough for a formal dinner setting or a relaxed meal with friends. Bold and distinctive, the 98's collections generous proportions have had it hailed as a modern classic—not unlike Citterio's extensive portfolio which has found a home in  New York's Museum of Modern Art.

Iittala is available at Gudang.

Don't miss: 6 Kitchen Appliance Collections To Elevate Your Kitchen Counter

4. John Pawson Tableware Collection

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Created by celebrated British designer John Pawson, his tableware collection is an extension of Pawson's simple, minimal aesthetic. The Calvin Klein of flatware, not unlike the austere stored he designed for Calvin Klein, Pawson's stainless-steel flatware boasts precise lines and no extra flourishes than absolutely necessary. Pieces come in a shiny mirror finish and a five-pronged fork, which is one more than the standard four, although minimalists will be pleased to know that a three-pronged fork is also available.

Available at Jan George

5. Gio Ponti's Conca Collection for Sambonet

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The extremely prolific architect, the late Gio Ponti, was known for designing more than 200 projects, from buildings to urban planning, theatre sets to exhibitions, and creating over 250 pieces of furniture, machines, lamps, ceramics, textiles, tiles, glassware and metal objects, not to mention founding design bible, Domus. His stainless steel Coca collection for Sambonet is as singular as the architect himself, complete with a spoon that looks like a conch shell. 

Available at Sambonet

6. Ettore Sottsass' Nuovo Milano Cutlery for Alessi

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Known for founding the 1980s design collective Memphis, Ettore Sottsass' impact on design is undeniable. From championing unconventional furniture to designing the iconic Olivetti typewriter, Sottsas' influence continues to be seen in the works of Tom Dixon and Thomas Heatherwick. His Nuovo Milano cutlery set for Alessi won on the XVIth Compasso d'oro award. Needless to say, it's a classic designed to be as “smooth as an ocean rock”, with a soft and rounded shape. 

Available at Alessi and other retailers including Farfetch, Selfridges, and Tangs

7. Arne Jacobsen’'s Danish-Modern Flatware for Georg Jensen

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One of the leading Scandinavian architects and industrial designers of the 20th century, Arne Jacobsen's “less is more” approach is evident in this magnificently streamlined set for Georg Jensen. Groundbreaking, innovative and unconventional when first created, the now iconic stainless steel cutlery set was originally designed in 1957 for mid-century masterpiece, Copenhagen’s SAS Royal Hotel and was even appeared in Stanley Kubrick’s seminal sci-fi movie, 2001: A Space Odyssey

Georg Jensen is available at Studio 216 in Singapore and Malaysia.

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