KOUTALIA, PROTSES AND MASHERKA

 

The category of basic cutlery included principally and among others the koutalia (spoons), the protses (forks) and the masherka or kourtelles (knives).

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Koutalia were the basic item and were principally used for the consumption of food in liquid or solid form. They were usually made of wood and had very simple undecorated forms. The spoons from the Bee and Embroidery Museum are characteristic examples of the types used, as they consist of a straight circular in section handle with a rather deep cavity at the front part.

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Metal koutalia and particularly metal protses were imported to the island. Interestingly, their smaller sized forms, namely the koutalouthkia (small spoons) and the protsoues (small forks) were used only for the consumption of desserts and traditional sweets, the latter made at every household from various types of fruit preserved in sugar syrup. At wealthier households, the latter type of dessert crockery was made of silver and was being produced by local silversmiths. The set also contained the kantila (vessel like a glass) where the sweet was usually served dipped in water.

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Table knives usually had a steel blade and a manitzin (handle) made of wood, horn/antler or bone. Some of them were imported, but most were of local production and the most renowned pitsiaksies (knife makers) were the craftsmen from Lapithos.