U.S. vs U.K. Crescent Plate Etiquette

A crescent plate as side dish, is a uniquely Victorian era creation. The use of crescent plates presented some practical problems not associated with the regular salad or other side plates. The crescent plate normally sits off to the left of the main plate but the crescent plate must be placed next to the main plate in space taken by silverware. Because of this problem, the crescent plate was placed above the forks on the left, or at times, to the top of the main plate.— Diagram from “Setting Your Table” by Helen Sprackling

“Salad plates are generally smaller versions of the dinner plate and may or may not be used at a formal dinner. They're almost certainly found at an informal dinner or luncheon. If the salad course is to be served with the game course, a practical problem arises — the game is hot, and the salad is cold. Anyone who has ever eaten a congealed salad with hot meat knows the salad will melt. In addition, the salad oils tend to mix with the game. To avoid these problems, the English started using a crescent salad plate.

“In the United States, such large crescent salad plates were not often produced; however, a smaller crescent bone plate was fairly common in American patterns. The crescent bone plate was used to hold the bones that were exposed when diners deboned their fish with their knives and forks. One can readily see the difference in size between a salad plate and a bone plate.

“The use of the crescent plates presented some practical problems not associated with the regular salad or other side plates. The crescent plate normally sits off to the left of the main plate but the crescent plate must be placed next to the main plate in space taken by silverware. Because of this problem, the crescent plate was placed above the forks on the left, or at times, to the top of the main plate.” — From “Forgotten Elegance,” 2002

 🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber of The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Using Crescent Plates Properly

Originally, crescent side plates at place settings were for depositing bones or other indigestibles from one’s meal in the U.S. and for eating one’s salad from in Great Britain. They came in a variety of sizes and shapes, depending on the manufacturer and design. Salad plates were larger. Bone plates were smaller.

The crescent plate may be used as a salad plate with the roast course. It was used in this manner at Queen Elizabeth's coronation dinner. 

“Many hostesses who have inherited lovely old French or English china services with the crescent salad plate, are now proudly using them. The crescent plate may be used as a bread and butter plate, as in photo #2, whenever one would be needed or, more formally, as a salad plate with the roast course. It was used in this manner at Queen Elizabeth's coronation dinner. See photo #1.”

The crescent plate may be used as a bread and butter plate, as in photo #2, whenever one would be needed.

 —From "Setting Your Table... Its Art, Etiquette and Service," by Helen Sprackling, 1960

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