History. Crescent shaped table dishes date from 19thC and were originally used as a separating dish to keep cold food separated from hot food as in a salad side plate. Most bone dishes have a crescent shape, enabling them to curve around the dinner plate, but others were made in more whimsical shapes.
What do you use a crescent plate for?
The Crescent Plate adds visual interest to a classic table setting and can be used as a bread plate or to corral juicy side dishes. Its curvilinear design allows the dish to nest perfectly against your favorite plate or bowl for a more compact eating space.
How much are bone dishes worth?
In today's market, bone dishes are fairly plentiful, though a set of a dozen identical dishes in good condition, even with a monogram, is an unusual find and could be worth about $350.
How do I identify old dishes?
The markings on the underside of antique dishes can often help you to identify more than who made the piece. Some dishes have a stamp telling you the name of the manufacturer and also a date mark. These marks give you the approximate time frame during which your antique dish was made.
What was a bone dish used for?
Crescent shape bone dishes are used to hold discarded bones from fish at the dining table. They are largely antiques, rarely used by modern diners.
What does a bone dish look like?
Most bone dishes have a crescent shape, enabling them to curve around the dinner plate, but others were made in more whimsical shapes.
How do I know if my dishes are worth anything?
Look for a back stamp or marker stamp. Once you know the manufacturer, you can look up the approximate value of the piece online. The back/marker stamp is usually found on the bottom of the dinnerware. Look for a marking that is painted, impressed, or stamped on the piece.
What is a vintage bone dish?
Your Limoges dishes are interesting examples of the Victorian era's love of elaborate formal table settings and personalization. They were used to hold discarded chicken or fish bones, lest they pile up on one's main plate in an unsightly mess (the Victorians were very neat).
How do I know if my dishes are antique?
- The back/marker stamp is usually found on the bottom of the dinnerware.
- Back/marker stamps can be very small, but these usually include an emblem of some sort, the name of the manufacturer, and possibly numbers indicating the class or date of the piece.
What are Half Moon plates for?
Crescent shaped table dishes date from 19thC and were originally used as a separating dish to keep cold food separated from hot food as in a salad side plate.
How do you use a crescent salad plate?
Gentle Reader: The crescent shaped bone dish goes to the left of the dinner plate but is not to be confused with the crescent-shaped salad plate, which also goes to the left of the dinner plate.
What are side plates for?
Side plates are generally 6-7” in size (c. 140-175mm) and can be used for everything from serving bread before the meal to placing napkins hygienically above the table surface.