We ended up realizing that the newlyweds too often received as wedding gifts objects of silverware that did double or triple duty, when precisely other, more useful objects were lacking.

And the habit is beginning to be established of asking people who have expressed the intention of offering silverware as a present, to contact the family goldsmith who, keeping accounts of the objects already received, will inform donors of the needs that will enable the services to be completed.

So we will no longer see young couples setting up a household, as was common, with eight teapots, five salad servers or three ladles!