 | ||
Bone dishes are used to hold discarded bones from fish at the dining table. They are largely antiques, rarely used by modern diners.
Contents
History
Bone dishes were "considered a necessary part of a table setting for the Victorian table," according to http://www.Kovels.com, a resource for antiques and collectibles.
Placement
The bone dish should be placed to the left of the dinner plate, wrote the newspaper columnist Judith Martin, "Miss Manners," in 2001.
Appearance
Most bone dishes have a crescent shape, enabling them to curve around the dinner plate, but others were made in more whimsical shapes.
Variations
German potters preferred scalloped edges on the bone dishes they made, Charles Mather wrote in a 1992 "Flea Market" column printed in the "Victoria Advocate" newspaper. Haviland, a French firm, used floral designs.
Recipients
In his column, Mather says bone dishes were a favorite gift to brides in the late 1800s and could be purchased in sets.