The term “charger” appears in the King James edition of the Bible, from the text where the daughter of Herodias requests the mind of John the Baptist “in a charger” out of Herod after performing a sexy dance for him. Other versions of the text in Mark and Matthew use “platter” in place of charger to get a deep bowl or bowl. But the word, since it’s used now, also seems in 13th-century Middle English texts and also in Scottish dictionaries, spelled “chargeour,” that pertains to big platters or plates.
Bears the Load
Throughout the 13th century, a charger refers to an object which bears a load, so much in precisely the same manner as a horse bears a rider. As a decorative plate utilized at a formal dinner setting, the charger is not meant to be eaten from, since it functions to guard the hot plate in the tablecloth or table and also the hands of the person eating. If a hot plate of food is served on a charger, then the diner can move the charger plate to get his food without burning his fingers.
Decorative Tableware
Also called “chop plates” or “under plates,” most charger plates, when new, bear a label which warns the consumer not to serve food directly on them, because they are not made of food-safe materials. Charger plates can be wooden, metallic, metallic, acrylic, plastic, earthenware or stoneware, or more. Though primarily utilized to bear the load of the hot plate or protect the table and tablecloth from getting dirty, most people use charger plates now to dress up a formal table or include decorative color and decor into formal dinners and events.