What is a cheese bell?

A cheese bell is simply an alternative term for the dome cover that sits upon a matching ceramic or metal stand. The bell shape helps enclose the cheese completely, trapping aromas and protecting the food from household insects during dining.

How were these dishes used?

These covered dishes served as the centrepiece for the cheese course at the conclusion of a formal nineteenth-century dinner. Hosts kept the cheese resting on the ceramic stand beneath the dome until the meal progressed to the final savoury course.

Are all cheese domes made of ceramic?

While earthenware and ironstone represent the majority of surviving examples, alternative materials appear across different periods. Craftsmen also paired glass covers with silver plate stands, or utilised Old Sheffield Plate for entirely metallic constructions.