What's this sterling plate for?

I have a lone, monogrammed plate passed down in my wife's family from a distant aunt (it bears her monogram). I'm pretty sure it was not part of a set because we have her other silver, and there is nothing else like this. It bears the mark on the back for the Meriden Britannia Co. (bird with M above it) and is marked Sterling. It only measures 5.5 inches in diameter. It has to date from somewhere in the range 1891-1944. What is this kind of plate called, and what was its likely purpose?

It looks a little like it's bent, but it's not. It's much easier scan things than to photograph, and the light/shadow is an artifact from scanning.

 

Looks like it might be an under plate for something else. Do you have any small sterling bowls or compotes from the same maker?

It's not a wine bottle coaster, they usually had sides, or porcelain centers.

@Bakersgma will be along later.

 

Is this the mark you have?
This mark was used 1895-1930.

Copied from
https://www.925-1000.com/americansilver_M3.html

 

It's about the right size for a bread and butter plate.

 

Yes, that is the mark.

 

Visiting cards?

 

That was going to be my first suggestion too, Bronwen. That size and fancy monogram do not seem to me to be an individual place piece for the table.

 

@Bronwen. I am with you, Visiting cards receptor plate was my immediate choice. Placed on a hallway table, with the initials on it marking for whom a visitor had left a card. The monogram would have been important in a multi-household with frequent visitors for several occupants.

 

I appreciate the answers. Thank you! It wouldn't have occurred to me, but when you all mentioned calling cards, that seemed to instantly make a lot of sense. Searching on that, I can see others that are similar, often called "Calling Card Dish" or "Calling Card Tray". Here's an example (although a much more famous maker, and a little larger).

 

@smallaxe: Absolutely. The Calling Card Tray of yore should be thought of the predecessor to voice mail. Of course only elegant homes had elegant visitors who left elegant calling cards. Not so elegant homes wouldn't have known how to recognize a calling card tray as their needs for it were limited by lack of elegant visitors as well as, quite often, inability to read.

 

While it could certainly be used for a card tray, or any other purpose desired, it was more likely sold as a bread & butter plate (have seen numerous monogrammed sets).

From a 1917 retailer's catalog:






From a 1916 Wallace sterling catalog, showing the size range from 5" to 7":






Card tray from the same catalog, 6":




~Cheryl

 

@DragonflyWink
Cheryl
What is this one listed as?
The reason I thought it was an underplate is because of the sharp inner edge, to keep something in place.
OP's

 

It's a bread & butter plate, the first on the list - there's little reason to monogram an underplate since it would be covered by the other piece...

~Cheryl

 

Stands to reason that such a size plate was intended for more than one purpose. When we think about it, limiting it to a Card Collector Plate only would seriously limit sales. More people definitely eat bread and butter than have visitors expecting a special plate to drop off their calling cards.
Incidentally, wouldn't a buttered toast also cover the inscription--nev'a mind...

 

The monogram would be quite visible on the set table before the food was served...

~Cheryl

 

That's just too reasonable!

 

Could it also be used as the underplate for a pitcher (silver or crystal) of ice water to catch the moisture from the sweating. That is how I use mine, and some times at a serve yourself luncheon, I even use a napkin or round tatted edge doily in the center of the underplate to soak up the moisture.

 

Many a monogrammed pipkin has a monogrammed under plate. Many a monogrammed round sauce boat or mayonnaise bowl has a monogrammed round under plate. Many sets of bread plates are broken up when heirs divide them. Many bottle/pitcher coasters are all silver. Bottom line: use it as you like and enjoy it. It is a PLATE. But whatever you do, do not run a knife over it. On the other hand, beaded rim silver is ubiquitous. See if you can find a Meridian catalogue and start the search for a matching something to put on top of it. My 2 cents.