Featured Chinese Dishes 1800's?

Bought a pair of these dishes at an estate sale. Late 1800's. Stand 1 1/2" tall and measure 7" x 5" What were these used for?

 

It looks like there might be Chinese (?) symbols on the back of that plate/dish.... can you or did you try rubbing a bit of cinnamon across it to see if there is enough indentation to make anything out??? Don't get your
hopes up....it's only a possibility!!! That's an inverted image I tried on....



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Aquitaine, there are no symbols on the backs, just old tape marks. Bought these from an estate sale. Someone else told me these may be Japanese. Not sure since they only had Chinese items at this sale.

 

AH well, we try!!!!! Too bad!!!

 

At a glance i would say they are certainly Japansese, and the gold inidcates they are at earliest 19th century. I think Asia did not learn the continental fluid gold ink until almost 20th century, so maybe these might be Meiji or later.

 

Hi-
Those are lovely little Japanese kaiseki dishes, c.1850-1900 or so. Made for serving small portions at a multi-course meal. Great find!