Superfulous Sterling

One of the cardinal rules with respect to table setting is that every item on the table should have a real purpose.  Over the years, manufacturers of sterling flatware and holloware have come up with items for the table, that in the mind of Mr. Bowen, don't really need to be there.  The following list is not exhaustive, but it is indicative of the type of items that should be banished from the table.

At the top of my list of superfluous tableware items is the misuse of a charger.  A charger is a plate slightly larger than a dinner plate, whose use in some circles is as a fill in plate on the table.  Apparently, some people are horrified at the prospect of a space between the flatware before dinner.  Mr. Bowen has seen this misuse happen at some of the best dining places that should know better.  The type of chargers used in this manner aren't the ones originally manufactured in sterling.  They are made of either plastic or cheap base metal.  Ostensibly, they are also put under the dinner plate to protect the tablecloth.  If one needs to protect the tablecloth, then buy one that is stain resistant.  Traditionally, a charger is a serving plate dating back to the 17th century.

 Although rarely seen, there is such an invention as knife rests.  When in use, a knife should rest on a plate with the blade facing inward.  That goes for the dinner as well as the bread knife.  This keeps anything dripping off of the knife onto the tablecloth.  If your plate is so full that there is no room for the knife, you have other problems.  A knife rest is totally unnecessary.

Another item that doesn't belong on the table are napkin rings.  A napkin ring says to the guests that you are not sure how to fold a napkin.  Once the ring itself has been removed from the napkin, it takes up valuable space on the table and gets in the way of other things.

Some holloware items are appropriate for some things and inappropriate for others.  An example of this is a coaster.  A bottle of wine should have a coaster underneath it.  The water or wine goblet does not need a coaster.

Napkin clips are another example of a totally unnecessary item.  The napkin belongs in the lap, not clipped onto the shirt.

The last item on Mr. Bowen's list of pet peeves is the place mat. A place mat should only be used in informal dining.  It doesn't belong on a formal dining table.