Choosing Flatware

Deciding on silverware may not seem like a major task, but there are things to consider when you purchase your flatware. I chose Oneida's Heirloom Quality line, the Easton, not only because its quality sets it up to be passed down from generation to generation, but because its simple look will stand the test of time, and because the place fork, the most-used of any silverware, has the sharp tines that I love.

The Oneida Easton 5-piece Place Setting features a classic, timeless look. Pieces can go from the dishwasher to a casual table to a table set for a special occasion and still retain its shine and look of sophistication.

I love the clean lines with just a touch of simple decoration. If I were to change anything about this flatware, it would be to re-think the squareness at the handle end. It sort of reminds me of cafeteria silverware, but it's not a deal breaker by any stretch.

In my search for replacement flatware, I found that I had five criteria for that perfect setting:

1 Must be heirloom quality. The Easton is heirloom quality. And when you sign up for Oneida's Flatware For A Lifetime program, you can keep your set growing and complete.

2 The tines of the place fork should Oneida Easton Forks — the deal-breaker?be long and pointed. Precisely-pointed tines make the Easton fork, or any fork, a better tool.The Easton forks have nicely pointed tines. They pass the deal-breaker challenge.

3 The fork should feel good in the hand — not too heavy, and not too light. The Easton is a well-balanced and well-made set of flatware.

4 Should look at home on my dinner table with my best dishes. The Easton works well in both casual and special settings.

5 Aesthetics. A classic and classy look. As Oneida calls it, the Easton is "Upscale. Understated. Universal." Simple style. Elegant style.

It is my belief that this silverware will serve you well. The Oneida Easton 5-Piece Place Setting is highly recommended for the homemaker who wants a look for her table that won't go out of style, goes from casual to elegant, and that will last beyond a lifetime. When you choose the Easton, that's what you'll get.

Oneida was founded in Oneida, NY in the nineteenth century by John Humphrey Noyes. It was not founded as a maker of silverware but as a "utopian society" — a social and religious community.

These New Englanders' theology was a form of Christianity called "Perfectionism." The community's foundation was self-perfection and communalism.

And so it was for 33 years.

It was not until 1880 that the company we know today was formed. This formation was a direct result of the community's far-out ideas, especially those regarding monogamous marriage. With peer pressure as an instigator, Briefly, from the beginning and on to Oneida Easton tablewareOneida turned their attention to the silverware production that they had been perfecting over the years.

The home they built brick by brick, over time, is called the Oneida Community Mansion House. It was the group's Eden. A perfect place to dwell. Today, its 93,000 square feet of living space and its grounds are still kept pristine. It's now a museum listed as a National Historic Landmark.

The mansion still seems to operate like a community. Coupled with its collections and exhibits, workshops, and guided tours, it has permanent residents and eight guest rooms for folks who want to spend the night.

Probably the most noteworthy aspect of Oneida's communal "abandonment of the self for the good of the whole," is that their endeavors led to a work ethic and pride in craftsmanship that is the hallmark of the Oneida Ltd we know today.

Sources: Oneida.com | Oneida Community Mansion House | Oneida at Wikipedia