finger-glasses, hot-water plates

[user_gary]

The camp itself was sumptuous seven large tents (one for each), a dinining-tent, and a number of servants' tents. The dinner was very good, as Grandfather admitted afterwards; it was not often that one saw hot-water plates, finger-glasses, and seven or eight courses, in a tent in the forest ! But that was how things were done in the days of the Viceroys...... There were also some fifteen elephants, four of them with howdahs for the shikaris, and the others specially trained for taking part in the beat.

Please explain the bold ones. [I couldn't find it in a dictionary]

 

[mjscott]

http://cgi.ebay.com/BEAUTIFUL-OLD-H...egoryZ25QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

A hot water plate is a plate that holds hot water in it. It helps keep food warm.

Above is an eBay hot water plate. I am assuming that the finger glasses are finger bowls.

 

[fsabroso]

Hi:

A hot-water plates are a type of decorated plated of different designs and I think made of porcelain to keep food warm

 

[user_gary]

http://cgi.ebay.com/BEAUTIFUL-OLD-H...egoryZ25QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

A hot water plate is a plate that holds hot water in it. It helps keep food warm.

Above is an eBay hot water plate. I am assuming that the finger glasses are finger bowls.

Thank you friends.

I don't know, what is `finger bowl' ? and why it is used?

Could you explain me?

 

[mjscott]

A finger bowl is a small bowl put next to your place setting on the table. It contains warm water and is used to wash off your fingers before you eat. It is usually accompanied with a small towel, other than your napkin, for drying your fingers. Most finger bowls have been replaced by a paper-plastic-and-aluminum packet that contains a pre-moistened towelette that is disposable.

http://www.wordreference.com/definition/finger%20bowl

The point the author is making is that you usually see things like hot water plates and finger bowls in finer restaurants, not out on a camping trip or a safari.