Place Plate Etiquette

Service plates or place plates can easily elevate the look of one’s table. “The service plate remains upon the table until the dish is served and forms a foundation plate for both the cocktail and the soup.” – “Service plates,” “place plates” or “chargers” are now left by some hosts and hostesses, until the dessert course because it is used as a decorative part of the place setting.

A Table Nicety 

Strict regard for the niceties of table setting is an unfailing test of the clever hostess and requires continued observance of the correct laying of all the sterling appointments. An item of particular importance, is the place plate, used today in many smart homes. The etiquette of this piece of sterling need cause no worry in the heart of the inexperienced housewife. She must remember only this; at no time should the guest be left without a plate in front of him. The service plate remains upon the table until the dish is served and forms a foundation plate for both the cocktail and the soup. Like all pieces, it is removed from the left by the maid. In many homes, the place plate is returned and used for the dinner course, for which it is equally appropriate. – Calexico Chronicle, 1928

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia