These would have been used in households of the day to carry and hold cutlery by household staff. The appropriate cutlery, determined by each occasion would have been selected by domestic staff, typically in the kitchen and carried to the dining room to set the table.

Victorian mahogany cutlery tray. There is some wear to the inside of the tray where the cutlery is housed. The dovetail joints and outside of the tray are in good condition. The tray has a nice warm patina. 

The tray measures 38 cm long by 28cm wide by 18 cm high. Made in england circa 1860.