8215.91 - Plated with precious metal:

This HTS category, 8215.91, specifically encompasses kitchen or tableware items made of base metal that are plated with precious metal, excluding spoons, forks, ladles, and other specific types detailed in its subcategories. The defining characteristic for inclusion here is the application of precious metal plating to the base metal article. This plating distinguishes these items from their unplated counterparts and also from those plated with non-precious metals.

Within the broader "Other" category for spoons, forks, ladles, skimmers, cake-servers, and similar tableware, 8215.91 isolates those that are distinguished by precious metal plating. It is crucial to differentiate this from sibling category 8215.99, which covers all other tableware and kitchenware in this group that are *not* plated with precious metal. Therefore, if an item is made of base metal and has any form of precious metal plating (e.g., gold, silver, platinum), it falls under 8215.91, rather than 8215.99 which would apply to unplated or plated with non-precious metals.

The subcategories under 8215.91 provide further specificity based on the type of article. 8215.91.30.00 pertains to forks, 8215.91.60.00 covers spoons and ladles, and 8215.91.90.00 is a residual category for all other precious metal plated tableware and kitchenware, including any parts thereof that fit this description. This hierarchical structure allows for precise classification based on both material finish (precious metal plating) and the specific function or type of the utensil.