discovered these in the attic, & don't remember where they came from. what was their intended use? i'm guessing candy dish, but i don't know.......anybody know what era?

I have a couple of these from my great grandmother. She used them to hold rings and change on here bureau.
Depending on the size that could be what your were orginally for.

By the way....these are very pretty

I have some that are very similar. They were part of a antique punch bowl set. They were for candy and nuts :D:D:D

wow, i didn't think they were that old! i thought maybe from the 40's or so....... i should have said there is only 2 in the pic, the other pieces are the lids that fit on them...........

Hard to tell -- what size are they? I have some similar to those, about 5" across, that my mother gave me. She used them during special meals to hold relish, pickles, cranberry sauce, etc.

I can't tell from the picture, but if they are flat with just a little lip they may be coasters. At least, that's what my Gradma used some similar ones for.

I have many pieces of this pattern. It is also very common in my area at the flea markets. Mine came from my Mother and some pieces from the flea market. I use mine because it gives me pleasure. I wouldn't know how to date it.

They could be salt dishes, too, if they are small. Shakers didn't become popular for table use until the 20s. Can you give us an idea of the size?

My guess is candy or nut dishes

they are only about 2.5-3" across & they fit together like a clam shell

weren't salt dishes really small though? i think these are a little larger

The one on the left is a very common design, but the one on the right is very unique!

the one on the left is shallow and has curved sides as opposed to the one on the right, it's bottom is totally flat

I have one like the one on the left, it has been around as long as I can remember. I don't have any idea what the orginal use was, but the candy/nut dish makes sense

Could they be part of a ladies dressing table set? My mother had one belonging to my Nan...from memory one was a trinket holder and one had talc in with a big fluffy powder puff, hence the rounded lid. They usually had a tray, a ring holder and sometimes and candle holder to complete the set.

My grandmother gave me one similar and she called it a candy dish. Unfortunately it got broken!

It may be depression ware. At least that is what it looks like to me. Mom had larger dishes cut just like these that we used everyday and she put nuts, mints, cranberry sauce (at Thanksgiving) and other food stuff.

Pretty little things, aren't they?