On the right side of the plate, place the entrée knife with the blade facing in toward the plate.
To the left of the plate, place the entree fork and then the salad fork.
Dinner size knives are between 9 1/2 to 10 inches long. Forks are between 7 1/2 to 8 inches long. The luncheon size knife is approximately 9 inches long. The forks are approximately 7 inches long.
In the 1950s, a third size was made by some companies, called the place size. It has a knife that is usually about 9 1/4 inches long. The handle is usually longer than the handles on either the luncheon knife or dinner fork. The fork is usually 7 1/4 inches long.
All three sizes are still being made. Luncheon size settings, place size settings, or dinner size settings may be used for the same occasions.
A “continental size” found in some European countries, which is even larger than the dinner size, is being made in a few patterns.
The basic serving pieces are a table serving spoon, pierced (slotted) table serving spoon, meat serving fork, master butter server, and sugar spoon, plus a gravy ladle and, if required, a pie/cake server. — From “Warman’s Sterling Silver Flatware Value & Identification Guide,” 2003
*Please note: Several of these are incorrect. The instructions preceded by asterisks and underlined are entirely incorrect for a formal place setting, especially the teaspoon, cup and saucer.
**The shape of the bowl of the spoon should match the type of soup being served. Round soup spoons are best for boullions, gumbos, or any soup traditionally served in small, round soup bowls, while oval soup spoons are best for any soups served in low and wide soup plates.
