David Mellor Provençal Cutlery Set in Black

David Mellor is a towering figure in British design, especially in the realm of cutlery, where he helped redefine what flatware could be. Born in Sheffield in 1930, Mellor trained as a silversmith and made his mark early with Pride, a silver-plate tableware set designed while still a student, which remains in production.

His ambition was to raise standards across both craft and industry. In the 1960s he began designing stainless steel cutlery in volume—his Symbol line for Walker & Hall was among the first high-quality stainless sets manufactured in the UK. He went on to win numerous government contracts, supplying cutlery for hospitals, prisons, railways, and institutional canteens, reducing place settings to a functional five pieces without sacrificing elegance.

Among his celebrated collections is the Provencal cutlery series combining stainless steel with resin handles and brass rivets, offered in black, green, and rosewood tones. This line emphasizes Mellor’s philosophy of marrying utility, aesthetic restraint, and accessibility.

The Round Building factory in Hathersage, designed by Hopkins Architects and completed in 1990, stands as a physical embodiment of Mellor’s design beliefs. Built on the foundations of a former gas holder, the circular structure was conceived to reflect both practicality and architectural elegance.

Under the stewardship of his son Corin as Creative Director, David Mellor Design continues to maintain the standards set by its founder: craftsmanship, well-considered materials, and enduring design. Corin also guided the interiors of the David Mellor Design Museum in Hathersage, where the breadth of Mellor’s work across cutlery, public objects, and metalwork is displayed.