10 Bizarre Types of Antique Flatware You Never Knew Existed

We all most likely keep a pair of multipurpose scissors in the kitchen, but keeping a designated pair on hand for—of all things—grapes? At upper-class 19^th century dining tables, that was exactly the case. At the time, a bowl of grapes was a common shareable dish, but to pull the fruit directly from the stem with your hands was considered unmannerly. Thus, ornate silver shears worthy of displaying at formal affairs were invented specifically as a means of cutting the fruit directly from the stem. While the practice continued into the early 20^th century, today, grape scissors are merely collectibles, retailing anywhere from $30 to several hundred dollars.

While they might be a no-frills staple at every backyard barbecue and tailgate party today, potato chips were a new and exciting invention in the 19^th century. According to one legend, the salty, deep-fried crisps were invented at a restaurant frequented by well-to-dos in Saratoga Springs, New York, in the 1850s. Soon, diners started dishing them up at their own tables accompanied by fancy silver servers manufactured by the likes of Tiffany & Co. Today, these rare pieces can retail for several thousand dollars.

Why buy something to do the job a simple knife can do? According to inventor C.J. Schneider, who patented the food breaker in the 1930s, his tined cutter results in more even, crumb-free portions, particularly with cloud-like confections such as angel food cake. (Now this is something we can get behind.) The breaker caught on through the midcentury, and was even sold by major brands like Hostess.

While tongs for serving asparagus isn't such an outlandish idea, keeping tongs specifically for serving asparagus is classic Victorian. While not all asparagus servers came in tong-form, they were a popular option, with some made slimmer and more delicate for cradling a single stalk and others more robust for grabbing a bundle.

There's no better solution for keeping soiled hands out of the bread basket than offering a utensil as mesmerizing as this. These over-the-top three-pronged bread servers, often adorned with ornate decoration and resembling a trident, were used for piercing slices to transport from basket (or fine serving dish) to plate. As you'd expect, the more show-stopping the design, the higher the price tag.

While being able to sit on the couch scarfing peanut butter cups is a privilege we may take for granted today, in the 1800s, the chocolate industry was still in its infancy. In the latter part of the century, "bon bons," as the French called the delectable truffles, were commonly given as gifts or served at formal dinners. Naturally, chocolates had their own distinct set of silvers, including special serving baskets and spoons to keep the melty goodness from dirtying one's fingers.

It was in the 1860s when a duo from Dijon, France, by the names of Grey and Poupon first whipped up their recipe for an elevated version of mustard. Suddenly, the centuries-old condiment churned out from its namesake seed was an accompaniment worthy of dishing out in style. Around the same time, mustard ladles started popping up on Victorian tables and, despite their moniker, they were often used for serving other fine condiments as well.  

At the Victorian table, you can expect a special serving utensil for every dish—and that includes the lemon slices that accompany teatime. These miniature forks had a distinctive design, with the outer tines splayed out in a curve. We couldn't tell you why, but it sure makes for an interesting tabletop accessory.

Before the scoop became the preferred server of choice for creamy frozen desserts, the slicer reigned supreme. In the mid-19^th century, advances in technology suddenly made ice cream a luxury available to the masses, and the silver industry quickly responded. At the time, the slicer was especially poised to cater to the era's popular ice cream-based desserts, such as Neopolitan and Baked Alaska.

If you're an outdoorsman or an angler, pocket knives might be useful to have on hand for a myriad of reasons. If you're a high-society gentleman of the Victorian era, a pocket knife is a necessity for no other purpose than skewering the occasional wild apple. During this time, folding fruit knives were a sort of fashion accessory, with shiny silver blades and intricately decorated handles commonly crafted of Mother of Pearl. Because of their ornate appearance, the tiny knives were often given as gifts.