Three Fishplates

The Greeks used a special form of plate with a turned-down rim and a central depression for serving fish. The depression could be used to collect the juice or sauce in which the fish was served. Ceramic examples of the fishplate shape were especially popular in the Greek colonies in South Italy in the 300s B.C., and are decorated with representations of fish and other marine life. The traces of decoration that remain on these three marble fishplates, one larger than the other two, are primarily floral. On the large plate ([95.AE.58.1](http://www.getty.edu/art/collection/objects/32128)), an eight petal rosette with alternating dark red and purple petals fills the central depression. Four palmettes--two purple and two perhaps red and purple --remain on the plate's flat surface and short strokes in purple decorate the outer edge. The two smaller plates were probably also painted but it is difficult to determine what the patterns or scenes might have been. Only scattered traces of red paint remain on one, and blue-green on the other. The fragile nature of the painted decoration on the plates makes it unlikely that they actually functioned as dishes for serving fish.