"half a garnishe of tynne plates"

[Phoenix]

Googling for this doesn't help me, but the OED suggests that a garnish is a set of vessels for the table. This is from a Stuart will.

Can any one find a reference to such things? I wondered if they were the fancy decorated plates used at banquets - ie designed simply to hold sweetmeats: more decoration than use.

[Jill]

There are some references here, a little earlier than the Stuarts though

https://yorkshiredictionary.york.ac.uk/words/garnish

[Olde Crone]

A lifetime ago I worked in the kitchens of a posh hotel and "garniture" meant the things you would put on the table in order to eat a meal - so cutlery, crockery, cruets etc, but not silverware or crystal. Think everyday at home type of thing, not the best stuff you bring out for guests.

OC

[Janet]

There are some references here, a little earlier than the Stuarts though

https://yorkshiredictionary.york.ac.uk/words/garnish

Ooh, a Yorkshire dictionary! Thanks for that, Jill.

[Pinefamily]

Yes thank you. Bookmarked for future reference.

[Phoenix]

Thank you, Jill and OC. These certainly weren't the best bits of tableware, but they do sound gaudy.