'Chinese Black' six piece place setting, stainless steel and resin handles, designed and manufactured by David Mellor, Sheffield, ca. 1975.

Set of cutlery consisting of one table knife, fork and spoon and a smaller set made up of a dessert knife and spoon. Black acetal resin handle fixed to stainless steel blade or bowl by a single steel tack in the centre. The knife blades are completely flat, the forks have four, broad tines, the spoons have a broad, shallow bowl.

Given by the manufacturer

" 'Chinese Ivory' and its variant 'Chinese black' were first manufactured in 1975, the tenth of David Mellor's cutlery designs to come into production. Although as a designer, David Mellor has been involved in an immense variety of projects of many shapes and sizes - from large-scale designs for quantity production to individual pieces of specially commissioned hand-made silver - he has always specialised in cutlery. He has designed cutlery in sterling silver for British embassies and cutlery in stainless steel for government canteens. Five different ranges of his cutlery have won Design Centre Awards. Chinese Ivory and Chinese Black were given the award in 1977." (taken from David Mellor promotional material)
A six piece place setting was originally retailed for £14.80 in 1975.

Historical significance: Design Council Award 1977

Reason For Production: Retail

'Chinese Ivory' was first manufactured in 1975, the tenth of David Mellor's cutlery designs to come into production. Although as a designer, David Mellor has been involved in an immense variety of projects of many shapes and sizes - from large-scale designs for quantity production to individual pieces of specially commissioned hand-made silver - he has always specialized in cutlery. He has designed cutlery in sterling silver for British embassies and cutlery in stainless steel for government canteens. Five different ranges of his cutlery have won Design Centre Awards. Chinese Ivory and Chinese Black were given the award in 1977.

M.4-E,-1978