Having inherited my silver service plates, I use them occasionally to enhance a festive dinner celebration! My grandmother's porcelain floral dinner plate is placed on one of my silver service plates for a spring dinner party.
A charger, also referred to as a service plate or an underplate, is larger than a dinner plate and is used for decorative purposes. They were primarily used to protect the table from hot plates and date back to the 15th century. Chargers vary in size from 11-14" in diameter, most traditionally made of silver or porcelain.
Food is never served on a charger. Instead, the dinner plate with food on it is placed on top of the charger. Plates for all of the courses served, except dessert ("pudding" in English vernacular), may be placed on the charger. In essence, if a charger is used throughout dinner, it will remain on the table and is only removed before the dessert is served.
The charger may also be used solely for the purpose of decorating the place setting visually for guests, and then, it may be removed prior to the first course being served.
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A White House place setting with a gold charger is in honor of the Australian Prime Minister, John Howard and his wife. A handsome gold enhanced White House charger created in honor of President Dwight Eisenhower.
Rarely would one ever see a charger used in a proper English country house! Even though silver service plates occasionally make their appearance at Fox Hall dinner parties, I adore and concur with William Hanson's (author of The Bluffer's Guide to Etiquette) summation of chargers: "They serve no practical use, as you do not eat off one, and are - frankly - a waste of money!"
Forbidden Faux Pas
To serve the dessert course upon a charger.
Millennial Tip
Consider using silver chargers to serve hors d'oeuvres upon. They are the perfect size for a small gathering and do not take up too much space in the living room!
Attractive porcelain chargers can be handsomely employed as wall decorations when hung with plate hangers. They also look smart when placed underneath a flower arrangement to enhance the overall appeal of the arrangement by complementing the color scheme of the flowers and the room.
Double duty! A charger can be used for more than its intended purpose.